CHI is the launch-day metric of the observatory: a regulator-grade gauge of real consumer damage — financial loss, fraud, service failure, product issues and inconvenience — built from early complaint data. Higher = more harm.
Unlike CVI (exposure) or MRI (systemic risk), CHI measures harm that has already occurred. It is the fastest indicator to compute from early complaint flows and the most useful for triggering regulatory action.
Reference lines mark the Elevated (55) and Severe (70) harm bands. Note the 2020 Q2 pandemic spike and the 2022 Q4 peak during the cedi/inflation crisis, followed by the steady decline as the IMF programme stabilised prices.
CVI measures exposure — how vulnerable consumers are to harm. CHI measures harm that has already happened. CHI is a lagging confirmation of what CVI projects forward.
MRI measures systemic risk in the marketplace. CHI is the downstream consequence at the household level. Persistent gaps between MRI rising and CHI flat typically signal that regulators are absorbing risk before it reaches consumers.