What is the Economist Intelligence Unit?
What products relate to the Worldwide Cost of Living Survey?
How do I contact the Economist Intelligence Unit?

 What is the Economist Intelligence Unit?

The Economist Intelligence Unit is the world's leading provider of country intelligence. As you'd expect from part of the organisation that publishes The Economist newspaper, we guard our independence fiercely. Our only agenda is a determined pursuit of the truth in the service of our clients' needs. That means an unswerving commitment to clarity, accuracy and reliability.

The EIU operates unfettered by the concerns or influence of governments, commercial organisations or special-interest groups. We are not interested in rosy scenarios. Nor are we afraid of uncomfortable conclusions, if that is where our logic leads us. We simply provide the best, most dependable analysis of the countries we cover.

Our country intelligence draws on the best sources and a wealth of experience; we began producing research and analysis 55 years ago in London. Over that time we have built up a peerless global network of more than 500 analysts, editors and correspondents. This powerful combination underpins everything we produce, from global macroeconomic forecasts to political and economic analysis for almost 200 individual countries.

The Worldwide Cost of Living survey is produced by the EIU's Data Services division. In addition to the Worldwide Cost of Living survey, the division also produces a number of reports related to asessing and benchmarking cities and countries using a variety of indicators.  

The price data which underpin the Worldwide Cost of Living survey are available in a separate time-series database called EIU CityData. This powerful database enables users quickly to compare prices of products across cities and regions and to watch the evolution of prices over time, as well as to access additional price data on costs such as office rents and salaries.

The indicators which contribute to the liveability rating are also sold separately from the Worldwide Cost of Living product to enable simple benchmarking or location assessments to be made. 

 The Economist Intelligence Unit has five major offices worldwide: