Statistics Iceland appreciates good cooperation with users of official statistics. Discussions can both be regular and on an ad hoc basis. Regular communication is usually on Statistics Iceland initiative as a formal consultation on meetings or with user surveys. Ad hoc communication can both be on the initiative of Statistics Iceland or its users; this can be through a telephone, e-mail, or meetings. Cooperation with users will help increase understanding of user needs and gives users information on statistics and its production.

Advisory committees

Advisory committee on the consumer price index
The committee operates according to the Act on the consumer price index no. 12/1995. Its purpose is to advise Statistics Iceland regarding the CPI and monitor its monthly calculations. The committee is composed of one member appointed by the Supreme Court, one appointed by the Icelandic Federation of Labour and one appointed by the SA-Confederation of Icelandic Employers. The advisory committee is subject to the Statistics Iceland Director-General.

Advisory committee on labour market statistics
The committee operates according to an agreement between Statistics Iceland and Institute of Labour Market Research on wage surveys and other labour market research since 9 September 2004. The purpose of the committee is to advise on and monitor the process of this agreement and advise Statistics Iceland on labour market research, particularly wage surveys. The committee is composed of two specialists from the Icelandic Federation of Labour and two specialists from the SA-Confederation of Icelandic Employers. The Advisory committee is subject to the Statistics Iceland Director of Business Statistics.

Methodological advisory committee

The committee operates on Statistics Iceland initiative. Its role is to encourage the use of sound methodology in Statistics Iceland processes according to principle 7 in the European Statistics Code of Practice. The committee is composed of representatives from Statistic Iceland, Faculty of Physical Sciences at University of Iceland, School of Business at Reykjavik University, The Social Science Research Institute, Faculty of Economics at University of Iceland, Central Bank of Iceland, and Decode Genetics. The Advisory committee is subject to Statistics Iceland director-general.

User groups

To be able to ensure the quality of the statistics and the services provided, Statistics Iceland needs to know the expectations of the users. Needs and expectations are different for different users so Statistics Iceland has divided its users into nine groups. Each group is composed of members that have similar needs for statistics:

• Private users
• Press and media
• Commercial companies
• Economic analysts
• Students
• Academic users (microdata users)
• Associations
• Government and public administration
• International organizations and foreign users

Statistics Iceland organizes meetings and surveys to identify user needs and expectation with the aim of improving quality.

To be effective, user meetings and user surveys need to provide information on:

• What is needed and what is superfluous in Statistics Iceland statistical production
• If accuracy and reliability is appropriate
• If timeliness and punctuality is appropriate
• If coherence and comparability is up to expectations
• If accessibility and clarity is up to expectations

The user groups are subject to Statistics Iceland quality manager.

Economic analysts

The user group for economic analysts discusses the needs and expectations of those who use statistics to analyze economics and the progress of the economy. The group meets twice a year. Participants come from:

• Ministries and official institutions
• Central Bank of Iceland
• Commercial banks and other financial companies
• Advisories that perform their own economic analysis
• Unions on the labor market

Academic users

The user group for academic users discusses the needs and expectations of those who are given access to microdata and use statistics, from Statistics Iceland, as a part of academic research. The aim of the group is to improve the service provided by Statistics Iceland to microdata users. The role of the group is to advice on policies and implementation on issues regarding microdata, and utilization of data that is available at Statistics Iceland and can be used for scientific purposes. The group meets twice a year. Participants come from:

• Universities
• Central Bank of Iceland
• Research institutes

Press and media

Press and media that use statistics in news and news commentaries are welcome into the group. Discussions in this group focus on what Statistics Iceland can do to better meet the needs and expectations of press and media.

Statistical product groups

Price indices

The statistical product group on price indices organizes meetings on methods in price statistics and price indices, in particular the consumer price index, the building cost index, and the producer price index. Meetings are usually once a year with participants from:

• Ministry and official institutions
• Universities
• Central Bank of Iceland
• Commercial banks and other financial companies
• Unions on the labor market and other interest groups