The classification of individual consumption by purpose. This statistical classification is used is a classification used to classify both actual individual consumption and individual consumption expenditure. The COICOP is one of the "functional" classifications designed to classify transactions. It is described as "functional" classification because it identifies the "functions" - in the sense of "purposes" or "objectives" - for which certain transactions are engaged. The first twelve levels of the classification refer to individual consumption expenditure borne by households. It  is mainly used for the purpose of consumer price indices and household budget surveys.