Federal Statistical Office (DESTATIS)

E 21 "Business indices, seasonal adjustment"

Statistisches Bundesamt

Gustav-Stresemann-Ring 11

65180 Wiesbaden, Germany

This indicator is part of the overall STS indicator system which supports business cycle observation. The import price index aims to show the development of the purchase prices of goods imported from abroad.

NACE Rev. 2.

Activities of the NACE-industries cover Sections A to C and Group 35.1 of NACE Rev. 2. Fission products, shipbuilding, aircraft industry, defense production, repair and installation of machinery and equipment and some types of civil engineering as well as some types of other goods with insignificant weights are not covered by the import price index.

All units with import value more than EUR 500,000 are included in the reference population.

The basic information collected is the import price excluding VAT and consumption taxes. The import price index aims to show the development of the purchase prices of goods imported from abroad. Variables, definitions and frequency of data compilation correspond with Commission Regulation (EU) 2019/2152 of 27 November 2019 in conjunction with Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197.

Prices are reported by enterprises and local units of the NACE Sections defined above importing industrial goods.

Contract prices on imports.

Country as a whole.

Since 1950.

2021 = 100

Indices as result of survey on prices.

Month.

The laws regulating the collection, treatment and dissemination of statistical data are the Commission Regulation (EU) 2019/2152 of 27 November 2019 in conjunction with Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197 as well as the German Federal Statistics Act (1987) and the law on price statistics (PreisStatG of 1958).

Data sent to Eurostat may contain confidential data to compile the European aggregate.

Confidentiality is guaranteed by section 16 of the Federal Statistics Act. It requires that respondents must be informed about their rights and obligations in providing statistical information. This rule is strictly followed. It also applies to the notification that individual data are only used for statistical purposes and - subject to protection procedures - for scientific purposes.

Furthermore, Chapter V “Statistical Confidentiality” of Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council applies.

As regards the confidentiality of data, methods of primary and secondary confidentiality checking have been developed and are being used.

A release calendar containing the precise release dates for the reference periods for the current year is published on the website of the FSO.

https://www.destatis.de/SiteGlobals/Forms/Suche/Termine/EN/Terminsuche_Formular.html?cl2Taxonomies_Themen_0=preise&cl2Taxonomies_Themen_1=ein_und_ausfuhrpreisindex

Indices are simultaneously released to all parties. The data are available at the database “GENESIS-Online” for all users at the same time.

Identification of internal government access to data before release in accordance with Principle 6.7 of the European Statistics Code of Practice: The German Central Bank gets internal access to the data one day before press release.

Data is transmitted to Eurostat one day before national dissemination.

Monthly.

Press releases concerning the import price index (domestic market) are published by the FSO. www.destatis.de>  Themes > Economy > Prices > Import and export price indices
https://www.destatis.de/EN/Themes/Economy/Prices/Import-And-Export-Price-Indices/_node.html

https://www.destatis.de/EN/Themes/Economy/Prices/Import-And-Export-Price-Indices/_node.html

Indices are also published at the time series database “GENESIS-Online” https://www-genesis.destatis.de/genesis/online?operation=sprachwechsel&language=en

The indices are published for selected products and product groups on different levels, i.e. the national derivation of the classification of products by activity (CPA 2008) and the classification of food and industrial products (EGW  2002).

Not available.

Data are monthly transmitted to Eurostat.

Methodologies and sources used in preparing the import price index for services can be found on the FSO-website https://www.destatis.de/EN/Methods/Quality/QualityReports/Prices/export-prices.pdf?__blob=publicationFile

Standardized quality reports are published on the website of the FSO. https://www.destatis.de/EN/Methods/Quality/_node.html

The data of German official statistics enjoy a reputation of high reliability in Germany and abroad. The FSO has committed itself to assure and further enhance the level of quality already attained. In order to achieve this task – also in the ESS – the activities of the FSO are based on quality guidelines. To assure quality in the long term, the FSO applies a variety of systematic quality assurance measures, among others the European Statistics Code of Practice.

Detailed descriptions can be found here: https://www.destatis.de/EN/Methods/Quality/_node.html

The FSO checks price reports from reporting units in terms of the completeness of reports as well as the plausibility of data provided. Furthermore, the same quality management procedures are applied to the calculated indices. Missing price reports are extrapolated with suitable methods which are further explained in section 13.3.

Additionally, import price statistics are sometimes used in stable value clauses. Thus, they are used and trusted by contracting partners.

Major users of import price statistics are the European Commission (Eurostat) as well as the European Central Bank at the international level and the Federal Government, i.e. the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action and the Federal Ministry of Finance, the German Central Bank, and other users of import prices such as specialised associations and interest groups of various economic branches.

In addition, results of import price statistics are sometimes used for stable value clauses and are applied by relevant contracting parties. Import price indices are also internally used as they are included in the national accounts calculations of the FSO and the statistical offices of the Länder.

The FSO conducts user satisfaction surveys in various sectors of statistics. The Statistical Advisory Committee (Statistischer Beirat) represents the interests of the users of federal statistics and regularly consults with the FSO.

Additionally, user satisfaction is measured by the number of monthly visits on specialized publications on the website of the FSO or downloads, quarterly downloads from the on-line database “GENESIS” and the number of external queries via the costumer management system.

STS requirements according to EU regulations and national laws are fulfilled.

Import price index figures are very rarely revised. First releases are highly reliable. Results are normally final for the respective reference month with the first release. Choosing a more recent base year leads to slight revision-related differences due to new calculation bases (i.e. basket of goods, weighting pattern, sample of reporting units).

In the case of non-response the price is estimated by well-defined compensation methods and the price representative is replaced as soon as possible.

Sampling errors cannot be quantified because the sample is not based on random sampling. However, the method of purposive sampling used in drawing the sample allows achieving a high degree of representativeness. It is ensured that leading companies in market segments are included in the sample.

Response of the surveyed units is obligatory. Otherwise, fines can be imposed up to EUR 5,000.

Unit non-response:

In the case of non-response (e.g. because of shut-down or restructuring of the enterprise, change in the product range, etc.) the prices are extrapolated with suitable updating indicators (e.g. average price trend of the relevant item or of a higher aggregate) and the price representative is replaced as soon as possible.

Item non-response:

This type of error especially includes incorrect or inaccurate data of the responding enterprises as well as non-response. Incorrect or inaccurate data are corrected by data editing and by direct queries with the enterprises in the current reference month. Plausibility checks focus on validating the relevant price trend.

Imputation methods:

Prices of goods which are temporarily not sold are carried forward using suitable methods.

The average size-weighted unit response rate in 2023 is 90.78%.

Results are published around 25 days after the end of the reference month. The prices refer to the average of the reference month.

All publication deadlines are met.

Consistent time series of the recent base year are available since 1991 since Germany is covered as a whole. Earlier periods refer to the former territory of the Federal Republic of Germany only.

The Laspeyres concept applied to import price statistics is based on the principle that calculation bases are constant (basket of goods, sample of reporting units, sample of price representatives, weighting pattern). In theory, this ensures the comparability of the calculated indices within a base period.

Price indices for different base periods are often chain-linked to form long-time index series. Due to the introduction of new weighing schemes and methodological changes in the course of implementing a new base year, the long series of import price indices are comparable to a limited extent. A particular problem regarding comparability between different base periods is changes in the underlying classifications.

There are no comparable or adequate benchmark figures which could be used to check cross domain coherence. 

The import price index is internally coherent.

In the FSO 5.5 persons work on methodical preparation, conducting of the survey, processing, calculation, evaluation and publication.

The general revision policy adopted by the FSO covers routine revisions, major revisions and non-scheduled revisions. The national revision policy is the same as for Eurostat data. It can be found on the FSO website.
https://www.destatis.de/EN/Methods/Quality/GeneralRevisionsPolicy.html

https://www.destatis.de/EN/Methods/Quality/assurance-quality.html

https://www.destatis.de/EN/Methods/Quality/PrinciplesGoverningRevisions_of_Published.pdf?__blob=publicationFile

As no temporary results are published, no revisions are carried out regularly (MAR=MR=0).

The last major revision took place when year 2021 was introduced as base year which resulted in new computations of the indices. Furthermore, the samples of reporting units as well as of price representatives are fundamentally reviewed.

Users are informed about the upcoming rebasing at least three months in advance. Documentation of rebasing is further given in "Wirtschaft und Statistik". The FSO also publishes the rebased figures on its website.

Publication errors are corrected in accordance with the general FSO policy on non-scheduled revisions which deals with publication errors.

Data on prices and values of price determining characteristics are collected via statistical surveys.

The frame on which the source is based is the foreign trade statistic.

Generally, collection of data is carried out through a targeted sample. Units with an import value of less than EUR 500,000 per year are normally excluded. The sampling method is not formalised. A judicious selection depending on the value of imports is performed.

A fundamental revision of the samples is carried out every five years. The new samples serve for rotation of respondents and permanent adjustments due to the necessity of replacements forced by changes in the market structures.

Data are collected monthly.

Specific web-based questionnaires for statistics of import prices are used. They include a data checking process during the input process. Reporting via electronic media (internet) is obligatory. Missing responses are requested by telephone or postal reminders.

Plausibility checks are performed on single price observations and on aggregations of price indices.

A distinction can be made at two different stages. First, the reported price must appear logic within the price series itself. At this stage, the information of the individual dataset is validated. Second, the development of the price representatives is to be considered in the framework of a larger group of similar products. At this stage, validation of individual data only takes place after all individual price reports have been received.

The price series of a basket item are compared and automatically examined by specific criteria. In the case of discretionary or obligatory errors in individual reports, specific processing is carried out by the FSO. Discretionary errors do not necessarily make processing necessary whereas obligatory errors always result in an adjustment.

Estimates for non-response base on imputation techniques (e.g. estimation with price evolution of similar products) which are described in more detail in section 13.3.

Estimates for grossing-up to population levels are not applicable.

The type of indices is Carli (elementary indices) and Laspeyres (aggregated indices) which is rebased in general every five years.

The method of weighting and chaining requires four stages. First, for each price representative (product at the 6- or 8-digit level of national version of CPA for one observation unit) a simple index (price relative) is compiled as a ratio of the current price and the average price in the base year. Second, for each product at the 6- or 8-digit level of national version of CPA an elementary index is compiled as an average of the simple indices compiled at stage 1 (Carli-Index). Third, elementary indices compiled at stage 2 are combined to aggregate indices up to the CPA/NACE-2-digit level using fixed weights (base year 2021). These weights represent the import share of each product. A distinction is made for imports from the euro area and the non-euro area. This information is derived from the foreign trade statistics survey of the base year.

no adjustment

None.