One important issue affecting the reliability of data is timeliness. The most recent data or information are usually difficult to obtain and their reliability may also be questionable. The timeliness of data is moreover affected by the higher cost of obtaining them. But a private exporter notes that rice information is very much updated among the rice traders due to their continuous personal daily contact. Still, it may be safe to say that despite the time lag, the rice information released by public and private institutions is quite reliable.