In [359]: df = pandas.DataFrame({'x': 3 * ['a'] + 2 * ['b'], 'y': np.random.normal(size=5), 'z': np.random.normal(size=5)}) In [360]: df Out[360]: x y z 0 a 0.201980 -0.470388 1 a 0.190846 -2.089032 2 a -1.131010 0.227859 3 b -0.263865 -1.906575 4 b -1.335956 -0.722087 In [361]: df.groupby('x').apply(lambda x: pandas.DataFrame({'r': (x.y + x.z).sum() / x.z.sum(), 's': (x.y + x.z ** 2).sum() / x.z.sum()})) --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ValueError Traceback (most recent call last) /home/emarkley/work/src/partner_analysis2/main.py in () ----> 1 df.groupby('x').apply(lambda x: pandas.DataFrame({'r': (x.y + x.z).sum() / x.z.sum(), 's': (x.y + x.z ** 2).sum() / x.z.sum()})) /usr/local/lib/python3.2/site-packages/pandas-0.8.2.dev-py3.2-linux-x86_64.egg/pandas/core/groupby.py in apply(self, func, *args, **kwargs) 267 applied : type depending on grouped object and function 268 """ --> 269 return self._python_apply_general(func, *args, **kwargs) 270 271 def aggregate(self, func, *args, **kwargs): /usr/local/lib/python3.2/site-packages/pandas-0.8.2.dev-py3.2-linux-x86_64.egg/pandas/core/groupby.py in _python_apply_general(self, func, *args, **kwargs) 417 group_axes = _get_axes(group) 418 --> 419 res = func(group, *args, **kwargs) 420 421 if not _is_indexed_like(res, group_axes): /home/emarkley/work/src/partner_analysis2/main.py in (x) ----> 1 df.groupby('x').apply(lambda x: pandas.DataFrame({'r': (x.y + x.z).sum() / x.z.sum(), 's': (x.y + x.z ** 2).sum() / x.z.sum()})) /usr/local/lib/python3.2/site-packages/pandas-0.8.2.dev-py3.2-linux-x86_64.egg/pandas/core/frame.py in __init__(self, data, index, columns, dtype, copy) 371 mgr = self._init_mgr(data, index, columns, dtype=dtype, copy=copy) 372 elif isinstance(data, dict): --> 373 mgr = self._init_dict(data, index, columns, dtype=dtype) 374 elif isinstance(data, ma.MaskedArray): 375 mask = ma.getmaskarray(data) /usr/local/lib/python3.2/site-packages/pandas-0.8.2.dev-py3.2-linux-x86_64.egg/pandas/core/frame.py in _init_dict(self, data, index, columns, dtype) 454 # figure out the index, if necessary 455 if index is None: --> 456 index = extract_index(data) 457 else: 458 index = _ensure_index(index) /usr/local/lib/python3.2/site-packages/pandas-0.8.2.dev-py3.2-linux-x86_64.egg/pandas/core/frame.py in extract_index(data) 4719 4720 if not indexes and not raw_lengths: -> 4721 raise ValueError('If use all scalar values, must pass index') 4722 4723 if have_series or have_dicts: ValueError: If use all scalar values, must pass index In [362]: df.groupby('x').apply(lambda x: pandas.DataFrame({'r': (x.y + x.z).sum() / x.z.sum(), 's': (x.y + x.z ** 2).sum() / x.z.sum()}, index=[0])) Out[362]: r s x a 0 1.316605 -1.672293 b 0 1.608606 -0.972593 In [26]: df.groupby('x').apply(lambda x: Series({'r': (x.y + x.z).sum() / x.z.sum(), 's': (x.y + x.z ** 2).sum() / x.z.sum()})) Out[26]: r s x a -0.338590 -0.916635 b 66.655533 102.566146