Statistical Terms Glossary

A temporary relationship to provide assistance around a specific subject to a person, group, organization, or community wanting to build their capacity, and accomplish a task or achieve a goal.

All methods that require interpersonal consultations, such as working or steering groups, think tanks, directories, databases and organisational charts, conferences and seminars, or hearings.

The establishment of the Consultative Committee was approved during the Commission's 21st Ministerial Session on May 11, 2001 by Resolution 225 (XXI). The Committee shall be composed of experts from public institutions, private sectors, civil society and research centres, and shall have the following duties:
To advise on the endeavors exerted by member countries with a view to acquiring modern technology and support such endeavors with regional and international expertise, with particular reference to information and communications technology, biotechnology and new materials technology;
To propose ways of integrating and coordinating efforts aimed at transferring, adapting and mastering this technology, and promoting regional cooperation in these fields;
To advise on priorities related to the programmes of work and medium-term plans adopted by UN-ESCWA in the fields of developing scientific and technological capabilities and technological innovation;
To follow up on the resolutions and recommendations of international and regional conferences relating to the development of scientific and technological capabilities and technological innovation, which are attended by member countries; and to coordinate efforts related to the implementation of such resolutions and recommendations

Consumer durables are durable goods acquired by households for final consumption (i.e. those that are not used by households as stores of value or by unincorporated enterprises owned by households for purposes of production); they may be used for purposes of consumption repeatedly or continuously over a period of a year or more.

Consumer goods are goods or service that are used without further transformation in production by households, non-profit institutions serving households or government units for the direct satisfaction of individual needs or wants or the collective needs of members of the community.

Is an indicator of the nominal rate of assistance to consumers measuring the ratio between the value of consumption expenditure on agricultural commodities domestically produced including support to producers and that valued at world market prices without support to consumers.

An indicator of the nominal rate of protection for consumers measuring the ratio between the average price paid by consumers (at farm gate) and the border price (measured at farm gate level).

The consumer price index (CPI) measures changes over time in the general level of prices of goods and services that a reference population acquires, uses or pays for consumption.

A commonly used term for the goods and services priced for the purpose of compiling the CPI.

Is an indicator of the annual monetary value of gross transfers to (from) consumers of agricultural commodities, measured at the farm gate (first consumer) level, arising from policy measures which support agriculture, regardless of their nature, objectives or impact on consumption of farm products.

Consumer welfare refers to the individual benefits derived from the consumption of goods and services. In theory, individual welfare is defined by an individual's own assessment of his/her satisfaction, given prices and income. Exact measurement of consumer welfare therefore requires information about individual preferences.

Consumers' surplus is a measure of consumer welfare and is defined as the excess of social valuation of product over the price actually paid. It is measured by the area of a triangle below a demand curve and above the observed price.

Consumption is an activity in which institutional units use up goods or services; consumption can be either intermediate or final. It is the use of goods and services for the satisfaction of individual or collective human needs or wants.

The International Comparison Project (ICP) concept of "consumption" that includes both household expenditures and expenditures of government on such categories as health and education.

A consumption good or service is one that is used (without further transformation in production) by households, NPISHs or government units for the direct satisfaction of individual needs or wants or the collective needs of members of the community

Consumption of fixed capital is the decline, during the course of the accounting period, in the current value of the stock of fixed assets owned and used by a producer as a result of physical deterioration, normal obsolescence or normal accidental damage.

Goods or services that are consumed by the same household that produces them. The housing services consumed by owner-occupiers fall within this category. If goods and services produced and consumed within the same household are to be included in CPIs, prices must be imputed for them. Their inclusion or exclusion depends on the intended scope of the CPI.

A variant of the stumpage value method. Different prices are used for different ages or diameter classes. The consumption value method measures the value of the stock as if it were all cut now.

Special box to carry freight, strengthened and stackable and allowing horizontal or vertical transfers. This transport equipment is:
-        Of a permanent character and accordingly strong enough to be suitable for repeated use;
-        Specially designed to facilitate the carriage of goods, by one or more mode of transport, without intermediate reloading;
-        Fitted with devices permitting its ready handling, particularly its transfer from one mode of transport to another;
-        Designed to be easily filled and emptied;
-        Stackable;
-        Having an internal volume of 1 m3 or more.

Ship fitted throughout with fixed or portable cell guides for the carriage of containers.

Containment is the retention of hazardous material so as to ensure that it is effectively prevented from dispersing into the environment, or released only at an acceptable level. Containment may occur in specially built containment spaces

A contaminant is any physical, chemical, biological or radiologic substance or matter that has an adverse effect on air, water, land/soil or biota. The term is frequently used synonymously with pollutant

Introduction of any undesirable foreign substance -- physical, chemical or biological -- into an ecosystem. Does not imply an effect (see pollution). Contamination is usually anthropogenic (caused by humans), although natural conditions can sometimes generate contamination (ex. arsenic, fluoride).

In commodity markets, when the cash price is lower than the forward price. In the stock exchange market, the fee paid by an investor for the privilege of carrying the settlement of a transaction from one account period to another. (The opposite of backwardation.)

The difference between the cash and settlement prices.