Real Time Prices (RTP) is a live dataset compiled and updated weekly by the World Bank Development Economics Data Group. It includes three sub-series: Real Time Food Prices (RTFP) for staple foods, Real Time Energy Prices (RTEP) for fuel, and Real Time Exchange Rates (RTFX). The data is estimated using a combination of direct measurement and machine learning, sourced from the World Food Program, FAO, and national offices.
Use Cases
- Modeling food price inflation based on staple food price data.
- Analyzing energy market trends based on weekly fuel price updates.
- Forecasting unofficial exchange rate movements based on the RTFX sub-series.
- Assessing food security risks based on real-time price fluctuations for key commodities.
Strengths
- Data is updated weekly, providing a live feed.
- Uses machine learning to estimate missing price data, suggesting completeness.
- Compiled by the World Bank Development Economics Data Group, indicating institutional authority.
Limitations
- Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
- Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
Provenance
- Source
- World Bank Development Economics Data Group.
- Collection Method
- Combination of direct price measurement and machine learning estimation, using data from WFP, FAO, and national offices.
- Time Range
- Historical and current estimates, updated weekly.
- Freshness
- Last updated 2026-03-15 18:44:25.459370.
- Geography
- Malawi.