Kuluttajakorin

Kuluttajakorin is a Finnish term meaning the consumer basket—the set of goods and services that households typically purchase and that is used to measure price changes and inflation. The concept is etymologically formed from kuluttaja (consumer) and kori (basket), with the genitive suffix -n indicating “of the consumer basket.”

Composition and updates

The kuluttajakorin is defined by expenditure shares rather than by a fixed list, and its exact contents are updated periodically to reflect changes in consumer behavior, technology, and availability of goods and services. Common categories include food and non-alcoholic beverages, housing and utilities, furnishings and household equipment, health, transport, communication, recreation and culture, education, restaurants and hotels, and miscellaneous goods and services. The weights assigned to these categories represent the average household budget in the relevant economy.

Usage and purpose

The price changes of items within kuluttajakorin are tracked to produce the consumer price index (CPI) and related indicators. These measures are used for monetary and economic policy, cost-of-living adjustments, wage negotiations, and real income analysis. In Finland, the CPI and its underlying basket are prepared and published by Statistics Finland (Tilastokeskus) and related statistical agencies.

Limitations

As an average representation, the kuluttajakorin may not accurately reflect the spending patterns of all households or regions. Substitution effects, quality changes, and the emergence of new products can complicate interpretation, which is why the basket is revised to maintain relevance over time.