Revised currency baskets

The weights of currencies in the baskets used to calculate the broad and narrow merchandise- and trade-weighted indices have been updated. The weights are determined based on Iceland’s external trade in 2021. The last review was carried out at the beginning of 2022. The tables show the new baskets and the changes resulting from the review. The revised baskets will be used as of 1 January 2023 and will remain in use until the next annual review.

The currency baskets are reviewed annually based on Iceland’s external trade during the prior year. The aim is that the baskets reflect as closely as possible the composition of Iceland’s external trade in goods and services. Currency selection is based on the three-year average of a country’s share in Iceland’s goods and services trade. The main changes from the previous baskets are as follows:

Narrow merchandise (A), narrow services (C), and narrow trade basket (E):

             The Australian dollar is excluded from the baskets.

Broad merchandise (B), broad services (D), and broad trade basket (F):

             The Singapore dollar is excluded from the baskets.

In the trade baskets, the weight of the US dollar rises somewhat between years, whereas the weight of the pound sterling declines. In the services baskets, the weight of the US dollar increases markedly, and the weight of the Swedish krona rises somewhat. The weight of the pound sterling falls the most, and the weight of the Norwegian krona falls slightly. The trade baskets reflect these changes to a large degree, as the weight of the US dollar has increased the most between years, while the weight of the pound sterling has decreased the most.

Baskets 2022

Baskets 2022

Older announcements:

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  • From 2021

    The weights of currencies in the baskets used to calculate the broad and narrow merchandise- and trade-weighted indices have been updated. The weights are determined based on Iceland’s external trade in 2020. The last review was carried out at the beginning of 2021. The tables show the new baskets and the changes resulting from the review. The revised baskets will be used as of 1 January 2022 and will remain in use until the next annual review.

    The currency baskets are reviewed annually based on Iceland’s external trade during the prior year. The aim is that the baskets reflect as closely as possible the composition of Iceland’s external trade in goods and services. Currency selection is based on the three-year average of a country’s share in Iceland’s goods and services trade. The main changes from the previous baskets are as follows:

    Narrow merchandise (A), narrow services (C), and narrow trade basket (E):
    • The Brazilian real is added to the baskets.
    • The Saudi Arabian riyal is excluded from the baskets.

    Broad merchandise (B), broad services (D), and broad trade basket (F):
    • The Jamaican dollar is added to the baskets.
    • The South Korean won is excluded from the baskets.
    • The Turkish lira is excluded from the baskets.

    In the merchandise trade baskets, the weight of the euro and the Brazilian real increases considerably between years. On the other hand, the weight of the Canadian dollar, the Norwegian krone, the Australian dollar, and the US dollar decreases. The main changes in the services baskets are a significant increase in the weight of the euro and the Danish krone and a modest increase in the weight of the Swiss franc. The weight of the US dollar declines the most in the services baskets, although the weight of the Canadian dollar and the pound sterling declines somewhat as well. The trade baskets reflect these changes to a large degree. The weight of the euro increases the most between years, and the weight of the Danish krone and the Brazilian real has increased somewhat. The weight of the US dollar declines the most, although the weight of the Australian dollar and the Canadian dollar declines somewhat as well.

    Baskets 2021

    Baskets 2021

     

    Older announcements:

  • From 2020

    The weights of currencies in the baskets used to calculate the trade-weighted exchange rate indices have been updated. The weights are determined based on Iceland’s external trade in 2019. The last review was carried out at the beginning of 2020. The tables show the new baskets and the changes resulting from the review. The revised baskets will be used as of 1 January 2021 and will remain in use until the next annual review.

    The weights are determined based on the composition of Iceland’s external trade during the previous year. The aim is that the baskets reflect as closely as possible the composition of Iceland’s external trade in goods and services. Currency selection is based on the three-year average of a country’s share in Iceland’s goods and services trade. The main changes from the previous baskets are as follows:

    Narrow merchandise (A), narrow services (C), and narrow trade basket (E):
    •No change in chosen currencies

    Broad merchandise (B), broad services (D), and broad trade basket (F):
    •No change in chosen currencies

    In the goods trade basket, the weight of the Polish złoty, pound sterling, Canadian dollar, and Danish krone has increased somewhat between years. On the other hand, the weight of the Australian dollar, Chinese yuan, Norwegian krone, and Japanese yen has decreased. The most significant changes in the services basket are as follows: the weight of the euro has increased, while the weights of the Danish krone and US dollar have decreased the most, with the pound sterling decreasing as well. The trade baskets reflect these changes to a large degree. The weight of the US dollar has decreased the most between years, whereas the weight of the euro has increased.

    The tables showing the new baskets and the changes from the previous baskets can be found here:

    Baskets 2020

    Baskets 2020
  • From 2019

    The weights of currencies in the baskets used to calculate the trade-weighted exchange rate indices have been updated. The weights are determined based on Iceland’s external trade in 2018. The last review was carried out at the beginning of 2019. The tables show the new baskets and the changes resulting from the review. The revised baskets will be used as of 1 January 2020 and will remain in use until the next annual review.

    The weights are determined based on the composition of Iceland’s external trade during the previous year. The aim is that the baskets reflect as closely as possible the composition of Iceland’s external trade in goods and services. Currency selection is based on the three-year average of a country’s share in Iceland’s goods and services trade. The main changes from the previous baskets are as follows:

    Narrow merchandise (A). narrow services (C). and narrow trade basket (E):
    • The Brazilian real is excluded from the baskets.

    Broad merchandise (B). broad services (D). and broad trade basket (F):
    • The Singapore dollar is added to the baskets.

    In the goods trade basket, the weight of the Norwegian krone and the Chinese yuan has increased markedly between years, and the weight of the US, Canadian, and Singapore dollars has also increased somewhat. The weight of the euro, Turkish lira, and Saudi Arabian riyal has declined the most. The main changes in the services trade baskets are the increased weight of the US dollar, while the weight of the Danish krone and the Swedish króna has declined the most; furthermore, the weight of the Norwegian krone, Canadian dollar, and Saudi Arabian riyal has declined slightly. The trade baskets reflect these changes to a large degree. The weight of the US dollar has increased them most between years, while the weight of the euro, Turkish lira, Saudi Arabian riyal, and Danish krone has declined.

    The tables showing the new baskets and the changes from the previous baskets can be found here:

    Currency baskets 2019
    Currency baskets 2019
  • From 2018

    The weights of currencies in the baskets used to calculate the trade-weighted exchange rate indices have been updated. The weights are determined based on Iceland’s external trade in 2017. The last review was carried out at the beginning of 2018. The tables show the new baskets and the changes resulting from the review. The revised baskets will be used as of 1 January 2019 and will remain in use until the next annual review.

    The weights are determined based on the composition of Iceland’s external trade during the previous year. The aim is that the baskets reflect as closely as possible the composition of Iceland’s external trade in goods and services. Currency selection is based on the three-year average of a country’s share in Iceland’s goods and services trade. The main changes from the previous baskets are as follows:

    Narrow merchandise (A). narrow services (C). and narrow trade basket (E):
    • The Australian dollar is added to the baskets.
    • The Russian ruble is excluded from the baskets.

    Broad merchandise (B). broad services (D). and broad trade basket (F):
    • The South Korean won is added to the baskets.
    • The Nigerian naira is excluded from the baskets.

    In the goods trade basket, the weight of the US dollar decreases markedly between years, with the weight of the pound sterling decreasing as well. On the other hand, the weight of the Brazilian real and the Saudi riyal increased. The most significant changes in the services basket are as follows: the weight of the euro has increased while the weight of the US dollar and the Swiss franc has decreased the most, with the Norwegian krone and the Saudi riyal decreasing as well. The trade baskets reflect these changes to a large degree. The weight of the US dollar has decreased the most between years, with the Swiss franc decreasing as well, whereas the weights of the Brazilian real, the euro, and the Saudi riyal have increased.

     

    The tables showing the new baskets and the changes from the previous baskets can be found here:


    Currency baskets 2018 (Excel)

    Currency baskets 2018 (PDF)

  • From 2017

    The weights of currencies in the baskets used to calculate the trade-weighted exchange rate indices have been updated. The weights are determined based on Iceland’s external trade in 2016. The last review was carried out at the beginning of 2017. The tables show the new baskets and the changes resulting from the review. The revised baskets will be used as of 1 January 2018 and will remain in use until the next annual review.

    The weights are determined based on the composition of Iceland’s external trade during the previous year. The aim is that the baskets reflect as closely as possible the composition of Iceland’s external trade in goods and services. Currency selection is based on the three-year average of a country’s share in Iceland’s goods and services trade. The main changes from the previous baskets are as follows:

    Narrow merchandise (A), narrow services (C), and narrow trade basket (E):
       • The Polish złoty is added to the baskets.

    Broad merchandise (B), broad services (D), and broad trade basket (F):

       • The Australian dollar is added to the baskets.
       • The Singapore dollar is excluded from the baskets.

    In the goods trade basket, the weight of the US dollar increases markedly between years, and the weight of the pound sterling increases as well. On the other hand, the weight of the Brazilian real, the Russian ruble, and the Norwegian krone declined the most. The most significant changes in the services basket are as follows: the weight of the US dollar, euro, and Canadian dollar has increased, and the weight of the Danish krone, the Swiss franc, and the Saudi Arabian real has decreased the most. The weight of the pound sterling has also declined slightly. The trade baskets reflect these changes to a large degree. The weight of the US dollar has risen the most between years, whereas the weight of the Brazilian real, the Swiss franc, and the Danish and Norwegian krone has declined.

    The tables showing the new baskets and the changes from the previous baskets can be found here:


    Currency baskets 2017 (Excel)

    Currency baskets 2017 (PDF)

  • From 2016

    The weights of currencies in the baskets used to calculate the trade-weighted exchange rate indices have been updated. The weights are determined based on Iceland’s external trade in 2015. The last review was carried out at the beginning of 2016. The tables show the new baskets and the changes resulting from the review. The revised baskets will be used as of 1 January 2017 and will remain in use until the next annual review. 

    The weights are determined based on the composition of Iceland’s external trade during the previous year. The aim is that the baskets reflect as closely as possible the composition of Iceland’s external trade in goods and services. Currency selection is based on the three-year average of a country’s share in Iceland’s goods and services trade. The main changes from the previous baskets are as follows: 

    Narrow merchandise (A), narrow services (C), and narrow trade basket (E): 
            • The Polish złoty is excluded from the baskets. 

    Broad merchandise (B), broad services (D), and broad trade basket (F): 
            • The Czech koruna is added to the baskets. 
            • The Turkish lira is added to the baskets. 
            • The Hungarian forint is added to the baskets. 

    The weight of the euro in the goods trade baskets increases markedly between years. The weight of the Chinese yuan is also increased, and the weight of the Canadian dollar increases slightly. On the other hand, the weight of the Norwegian krone, the Russian ruble, the US dollar, and the pound sterling have fallen the most. The main changes in the services trade baskets are the increased weight of the euro, US dollar, and pound sterling, while the weight of the Danish krone, Swiss franc, and Norwegian krone has declined most and the weight of the Swedish krona and the Saudi Arabian riyal has declined slightly. The trade baskets reflect these changes to a large degree. The weight of the euro, Chinese yuan, and US dollar has risen most year-on-year, while the weight of the Danish and Norwegian krone and the Russian ruble has declined.

     

    The tables showing the new baskets and the changes from the previous baskets can be found here:
    Currency baskets 2016 (Excel)
    Currency baskets 2016 (PDF)

  • From 2015

    The weights of currencies in the baskets used to calculate the broad and narrow merchandise- and trade-weighted indices have been updated. The weights are determined based on Iceland’s external trade in 2014. The last review was carried out at the beginning of 2015. The tables show the new baskets and the changes resulting from the review. The revised baskets will be used as of 1 January 2016 and will remain in use until the next annual review.

    The weights are determined based on the composition of Iceland’s external trade during the previous year. The aim is that the baskets reflect as closely as possible the composition of Iceland’s external trade in goods and services. Currency selection is based on the three-year average of a country’s share in Iceland’s goods and services trade. The main changes from the previous baskets are as follows:

    Narrow merchandise (A), narrow services (C), and narrow trade basket (E):
    -No change in currencies

    Broad merchandise (B), broad services (D), and broad trade basket (F):
    -No change in currencies

    In the merchandise trade baskets, the weight of the British pound, Danish krone, and the Russian ruble has increased most, while the weight of the euro, Brazil real, and Chinese yuan has decreased. The most significant changes in the services basket are as follows: the weight of the US dollar, euro, pound sterling, Swiss franc, and Canadian dollar has increased, while the weight of the Singapore dollar decreases, along with somewhat diminishing shares of the Norwegian krone and the Saudi Arabian real. The trade baskets reflect these changes to a large degree. The weight of the pound sterling and the US dollar have increased most, although the weight of the Danish krone has increased somewhat. The weight of the euro, the Singapore dollar, and the Brazil real has declined somewhat between years. 

    The tables showing the new baskets and the changes from the previous baskets can be found here:
    Currency baskets 2015 (Excel file)
    Currency baskets 2015 (PDF file)

     

  • From 2014

    The weights of currencies in the baskets used to calculate the broad and narrow merchandise- and trade-weighted indices have been updated. The weights are determined based on Iceland’s external trade in 2013. The last review was carried out in January 2014. The tables show the new baskets and the changes resulting from the review. The revised baskets will be used as of 1 January 2015 and will remain in use until the next annual review.

    The weights are determined based on the composition of Iceland’s external trade during the previous year. The aim is that the baskets reflect as closely as possible the composition of Iceland’s external trade in goods and services. In 2011, Statistics Iceland began compiling data on the country distribution of Iceland’s services trade; therefore, the selection of currencies is now based on the three-year average of trade in goods and services. The main changes from the previous baskets are as follows: 

    Narrow merchandise (A), narrow services (C), and narrow trade basket (E):

    • No change.

    Broad merchandise (B), broad services (D), and broad trade basket (F)

    • The Venezuelan bolivar is excluded from the baskets.
    • The Indian rupee is excluded from the baskets.
    • The Singapore dollar is added to the baskets. 

    Among other changes, Lithuania is now part of the euro area because of its accession to the European Monetary Union as of 1 January 2015. In the merchandise trade baskets, the weight of the Danish krone, the Brazil real, the Chinese yuan, and the euro has increased, while the weight of the Norwegian krone, the Russian rouble, the British pound, and the US dollar has decreased. The most significant changes in the services basket are as follows: the weight of the Singapore dollar, the Swiss franc, and the US dollar has increased, while the weight of the British pound and the other Nordic currencies has decreased. The trade baskets reflect these changes to a large degree. The weight of the Singapore dollar and the Swiss franc has increased the most, although the weight of the US dollar has increased somewhat. The weight of the British pound and the Norwegian krone has declined somewhat between years.

    The tables showing the new baskets and the changes from the previous baskets can be found here:
    Currency baskets 2014 (Excel file)
    Currency baskets 2014 (pdf)

     

  • From 2013

    The weights of currencies in the baskets used to calculate the broad and narrow merchandise- and trade-weighted indices have been updated. The weights are determined based on Iceland’s external trade in 2012. The last review was carried out in January 2012. The tables show the new baskets and the changes resulting from the review. The revised baskets will be used as of 1 January 2014 and will remain in use until the next annual review.

    The weights are determined based on the composition of Iceland’s external trade during the previous year. The aim is that the baskets reflect as closely as possible the composition of Iceland’s external trade in both goods and services. In 2011, Statistics Iceland began compiling data on the country distribution of Iceland’s services trade; therefore, it is now possible for the first time to include these data in the three-year average of total external trade. As a result, the selection of currencies for the baskets will be determined henceforth by trade in both goods and services. The main changes from the previous baskets are as follows:

     

    Narrow merchandise (A), narrow services (C), and narrow trade basket (E):

    • The Saudi Arabian riyal is added to the baskets.
    • The Nigerian naira is excluded from the baskets.
    • The Lithuanian litas is excluded from the baskets.

    Broad merchandise (B), broad services (D), and broad trade basket (F):

    • The Saudi Arabian riyal is added to the baskets.
    • The Venezuelan bolivar is added to the baskets.
    • The Australian dollar is excluded from the baskets.

     

    The other most significant changes in the merchandise trade baskets are as follows: the weight of the euro, the Japanese yen, the Polish złoty, and the Indian rupee has diminished, while the weight of the Norwegian krone, the Chinese yuan, and the Brazilian real has increased. The most significant changes in the services basket are as follows: the weight of the Saudi Arabian riyal, the US dollar, and the Venezuelan bolivar has increased, while the weight of the euro, the Swedish krona, the Danish krone, and the British pound has diminished. The trade baskets reflect these changes to a large degree, and the most pronounced change from the previous baskets is the reduction in the weight of the euro. The largest increase is in the weight of the Saudi Arabian riyal, although the weight of the US dollar, the Norwegian krone, and the Chinese yuan has increased as well.

    The tables showing the new baskets and the changes from the previous baskets can be found here:
    Currency baskets 2013 (Excel file)
    Currency baskets 2013 (pdf)

  • From 2012

    The weights of currencies in the baskets used to calculate the broad and narrow merchandise- and trade-weighted indices have been updated. The weights are determined based on Iceland’s external trade in 2011. The last review was carried out in January 2012. The revised baskets will be used as of 1 January 2013 and will remain in use until the next annual review. 

    The weights are determined based on the composition of Iceland’s external trade during the previous year. The aim is that the baskets reflect as closely as possible the composition of Iceland’s external trade in both goods and services. The main changes from the previous baskets are as follows:

     

    Narrow merchandise (A) and narrow trade basket (C):

    • The Nigerian Naira is added to the baskets.
    • The Australian Dollar is excluded from the baskets.

    Broad merchandise (B) and broad trade basket (D):

    • The Indian Rupee is added to the baskets.
    • The Suriname Dollar is excluded from the baskets.
    • Jamaican Dollar is excluded from the baskets. 

     

    The most significant other change in the merchandise trade baskets is that the weight of the Euro, the Brazilian Real, the Danish and the Swedish krone and the British Pound diminishes somewhat, especially the weight of the Euro, whereas the weight of the Norwegian krone, Russian Rouble and the US Dollar increases somewhat. In the trade baskets the most significant other change is the same as in the merchandise trade baskets, but in addition the weight of the British Pound diminishes somewhat, as the weight of the British Pound in the service trade baskets decreases significantly.

    The tables showing the new baskets and the changes from the previous baskets can be found here:
    Currency baskets 2012 (Excel file)
    Currency baskets 2012 (pdf)

  • From 2011

    The weights of currencies in the baskets used to calculate the broad and narrow merchandise- and trade-weighted indices have been updated. The weights are determined based on Iceland’s external trade in 2010. The last review was carried out in January 2011. The revised baskets will be used as of 1 January 2012 and will remain in use until the next annual review. 

    The weights are determined based on the composition of Iceland’s external trade during the previous year. The aim is that the baskets reflect as closely as possible the composition of Iceland’s external trade in both goods and services. The main changes from the previous baskets are as follows:

    Narrow merchandise (A) and narrow trade basket (C):

    • The Brazilian real is added to the baskets.

    Broad merchandise (B) and broad trade basket (D):

    • The South Korean won is excluded from the baskets.

     

    The most significant other change in the merchandise trade baskets is that the weight of the British pound and the Swedish krone and Norwegian krone diminishes somewhat, especially the weight of the Norwegian krone, whereas the weight of the euro and the Brazilian real increases somewhat. In the trade baskets the most significant other change is the same as in the merchandise trade baskets, but in addition the weight of the Danish krone increases somewhat, as the weight of the Danish krone in the service trade baskets increases significantly.

    The tables showing the new baskets and the changes from the previous baskets can be found here:
    Currency baskets 2011 (Excel file)
    Currency baskets 2011 (pdf file)

  • From 2010

    The weights of currencies in the baskets used to calculate the broad and narrow merchandise- and trade-weighted indices have been updated. The weights are determined based on Iceland's external trade in 2009. The last review was made in January 2010. The revised baskets will be used as of 1 January 2011 and will remain in use until the next annual review.

    The weights are determined based on the composition of Iceland’s external trade during the previous year. The aim is that the baskets reflect as closely as possible the composition of Iceland’s external trade in both goods and services. The main changes from the previous baskets are the following.

     

    Narrow merchandise (A) and narrow trade basket (C):

      • No change.

        Broad merchandise (B) and broad trade basket (D):

        • The Surinamese dollar, the Jamaican dollar and the Brazilian real are added to the baskets
        • The Czech koruna, Estonian kroon and the Latvian lats are excluded from the baskets.

         

        The most significant other change in the merchandise trade baskets is that the weight of the US dollar, the Japanese yen, and the Australian dollar diminishes, whereas the weight of the Norwegian krone and the euro increases somewhat.

        There are some changes in the weight of the currencies in the trade baskets as well, as information on services trade has improved significantly. Previously, the primary services trade information used to measure the trade baskets came from the tourism sector; therefore, services trade made limited impact on the trade basket. However, more extensive information on service trade is now available, and the share of services trade in the trade baskets is higher as a result. The most significant change in the trade baskets is that the weight of the euro diminishes and the weight of the British pound increases.

        The tables showing the new baskets and the changes from the previous baskets can be found here:
        Currency baskets 2010 (Excel file)
        Currency baskets 2010 (Pdf file)

      • From 2009

        The weights of currencies in the baskets that are used to calculate the broad and narrow -merchandise and –trade weighted indexes have been updated. The weights are determined on the basis of Iceland’s external trade in 2008. The last review was made in December 2008. The revised baskets will be used as of January 1st 2010, until the next annual review.

         

        The weights are determined on the basis of the composition of Iceland’s external trade during the previous year. The aim is for the baskets to reflect as closely as possible the composition of Iceland’s external trade in both goods and services. Main changes from the previous baskets are the following.

         

         

        Narrow merchandise (A) and narrow trade basket (C):

        • The Australian Dollar is added to the baskets.

        Broad merchandise (B) and broad trade basket (D):

        • The Australian Dollar is added to the baskets and the Turkish Lira is excluded from the baskets.

         

        The most significant other changes are that the weight of the Norwegian Krona increases somewhat and the weight of the US dollar diminishes.

         

        The tables showing the new baskets and the changes from the previous baskets can be found here:
        Currency baskets 2009 (Excel file)

        Currency baskets 2009 (Pdf file)

      • From 2008

        The weights of currencies in the baskets that are used to calculate the broad and narrow -merchandise and –trade weighted indexes have been updated. The weights are determined on the basis of Iceland’s external trade in 2007. The last review was made in December 2007. The revised baskets will be used as of December 1st, until the next annual review.

        The weights are determined on the basis of the composition of Iceland’s external trade during the previous year. The aim is for the baskets to reflect as closely as possible the composition of Iceland’s external trade in both goods and services. Main changes from the previous baskets are the following.

         

        Narrow merchandise (A) and narrow trade basket (C):

        • The Russian ruble is added to the baskets.

        Broad merchandise (B) and broad trade basket (D):

        • The Taiwanese Dollar and the Suriname Dollar are excluded from the baskets.

         

        The most significant other changes are that the weight of the euro increases somewhat and the weight of the US dollar diminishes. Publication of the current official exchange rate index, with a base December 31, 1991 will be discontinued at the end of 2008. The current basket of that indexed has been unchanged since July 2005.

         

        The tables showing the new baskets and the changes from the previous baskets can be found here:
        Currency baskets 2008 (Excel file)

        Currency baskets 2008 (Pdf file)

      • From 2007

        The Central Bank of Iceland has revised the weights of currencies in the baskets that the Bank uses to calculate the broad and narrow merchandise and trade indexes. The weights are determined on the basis of Iceland's external trade in 2006. The last review was made in December 2006. Revised currency weights and the changes from the previous weights are shown in the accompanying tables. The revised baskets will be used to calculate changes in the exchange rate index as of December 3rd, until the next review at a similar time next year.

        The weights are determined on the basis of the composition of Iceland's external trade during the previous year. The aim is for the baskets to reflect as closely as possible the composition of Iceland's external trade in both goods and services. Main changes from the previous baskets are the following:

         

        Narrow merchandise (A) and narrow trade basket (C):

        • The Russian ruble and the Estonian krona drop out.
        • The Lithuanian litas is added to the baskets. 

        Broad merchandise (B) and broad trade basket (D):

        • The Turkish lira and the Czech krona are added to the baskets. 

         

        Publication of the current official exchange rate index will be discontinued. However, it will continue to be calculated until the end of 2008 on the basis of the current basket, which took effect in July 2005.

        The tables showing the new baskets and the changes from the previous baskets can be found here: 

        Currency baskets 2007 (Excel file)
        Currency baskets 2007 (Pdf file)

      • From 2006

        As of December 1, 2006, a new method has been introduced for calculating the effective exchange rate indices published by the Central Bank of Iceland. It is planned to cease updating of the currency basket that has hitherto been used to calculate the official exchange rate index and discontinue publication of this index at the end of 2008. A number of new effective exchange rate indices have been calculated. The weights differ considerably from those used for calculation of the official exchange rate index. In particular, the weight of the US dollar has been reduced. The baskets used to calculate the new indices are based on Iceland’s foreign trade over the preceding year and will be updated annually every September. The following tables show the new baskets based on foreign trade in 2005 and changes from previous baskets.

        Publication of the current official exchange rate index will be discontinued. However, it will continue to be calculated until the end of 2008 on the basis of the current basket, which took effect in July 2005.

        The main purpose of the change is to allow the baskets to reflect as closely as possible the composition of Iceland’s foreign trade in both goods and services, by increasing the number of component currencies. Calculation of the baskets has been simplified and made more systematic, and also brought more closely into line with established international practice. The reasons behind the changed methodology for calculating the exchange rate indices are described in Monetary Bulletin 2006/2. Four types of index are now calculated. Two are based on merchandise trade and contain different numbers of currencies, while the other two include the tourism sector. The baskets used for calculating the indices are as follows:

        A. Narrow merchandise basket: Calculated from merchandise trade with all countries with a weight of at least 1% in Iceland’s merchandise trade over the past three years.

        B. Broad merchandise basket: Calculated from merchandise trade with all countries with a weight of at least 0.5% in Iceland’s merchandise trade over the past three years.

        C. Narrow trade basket: The same as A, except that it takes into account the relative share of tourism in services trade. The distribution of tourism revenues is estimated from travellers’ nights of accommodation by country of origin, and expenditures from a geographical breakdown of credit card expenditure by Icelanders abroad.

        D. Broad trade basket: The same as B, except that it takes into account the relative share of tourism as in C.

        Trade with countries not fulfilling the above conditions for a 0.5% share of total trade in the broader baskets or 1% in the narrow baskets is zero-rated. The criterion for inclusion is three-year average merchandise trade volume. This prevents the need for repeatedly including new currencies in the baskets and removing others due to annual fluctuations in trade. No adjustment is made for third-market effects.

        The tables showing the new baskets and the changes from the previous baskets can be found here:
        Currency baskets 2006 (Pdf file)

        The new merchandise trade indices have been calculated retrospectively to 1995 and new services trade indices to 1999 and these time series are accessible on the Central Bank of Iceland website.

        For further information, contact the Economics and Monetary Policy, tel. +354 569-9600.