Definition: Scanner data

Category: Consumer Price Index

Detailed data on sales of consumer goods obtained by scanning the bar codes for individual products at electronic points of sale in retail outlets. The data can provide detailed information about quantities, characteristics and values of goods sold, as well as their prices. Scanner data constitute a rapidly expanding source of data with considerable potential for CPI (Consumer price index) purposes. They are increasingly used for purposes of hedonic analysis. http://www.ilo.org/public/english/bureau/stat/guides/cpi/index.htm