Statistics Portugal

National Accounts Department / Short Term Statistics Unit

Mrs. Adelina Andrade.  Instituto Nacional de Estatística (INE)

Avenida António José de Almeida, 5. 1000-043 Lisboa, Portugal

Industrial Producer Price Index - The purpose of the Industrial Producer Price Index (PPI) is to measure the monthly evolution of change in prices of a fixed set of domestically produced goods sold on the Portuguese and external market under fixed commercial and technical conditions in line with European rules defined by Eurostat.

NACE Rev. 2

Activity coverage: Sections B to D and Division 36, except Groups 30.1, 30.3 of NACE Rev. 2.

Size coverage:  No threshold is applied.

List and definition of variables: The production index represents the evolution of value added at constant prices. The definition used is in accordance with the Commission Regulation Nr. 1503/2006.

Planned changes in information collected: None

Accounting conventions: Calendar month. ls related to the 15th of the reference month.

Reporting unit: Enterprise

Observation unit(s): KAU

All units in business register of section B to E (excluding Division 36, 37 and 39).

The index covers 1604 kind-of-activity units, 685 products, and 8475 sub-sub varieties.

Sources of weights: The PRODCOM and SBS industrial surveys conducted by the National Statistics Institute (INE) are the sources of weights. These surveys cover around 25,000 kind-of-activity units.

Portugal

Base 2015: On Section Level and MIGs, data is available since 2010. 3-Digit Level of NACE Rev. 2. since 2010.

Data for PPI is available since 1990.

Base year: 2015

Indices

Month

Legal basis: At National level The general framework is the law”Lei 22/2008” from May 13th and STS regulation(EBS) Regulation (EU) 2019/2152 on 27 November 2019 and the Commission implementing Regulation 2020/1197 at European level

Obligation on units to provide data: The survey is mandatory and fines up to EUR 50,000 be applied.

Planned changes in legal basis, obligation to respond and frame used: None

Data are transmitted to other international organizations (Eurostat, UN and OECD).

The National Statistical Law (”Lei 22/2008” from May 13th) establishes the main principles as well as the working methods and composition of the Statistical System.

NACE REV 2 with less than 4 units and below a response rate of 85% is considered confidential. 

An advance release calendar that provides notice one-quarter in advance of the precise release dates is disseminated on the Statistics Portugal Internet website [http://www.ine.pt]. In addition, a two-month in advance release calendar is disseminated in Informação Estatística, (in Portuguese). Free copies can be ordered from the contact person shown on the dissemination formats page.

http://www.ine.pt/xportal/xmain?xpid=INE&xpgid=ine_calendarios&xlang=en

Simultaneous release to all interested parties

The data are released simultaneously to all interested parties by issuing the press release (“Destaque” in Portuguese) to the media and by simultaneously placing the data on the INE Internet website [http://www.ine.pt].

Identification of internal government access to data before release

No information is provided in advance to the Ministry before the press release for information. For more detailed information see the document dissemination policy at https://www.ine.pt/xportal/xmain?xpid=INE&xpgid=ine_inst_cqualidade

Transmission to Eurostat and further use of the statistics

Data are transmitted to Eurostat by STADIUM using SDMX at the same time as data is released, or the day before under embargo.

Monthly, 18 days after the end of reference period 

Frequency: monthly, press release available at

http://www.ine.pt/xportal/xmain?xpid=INE&xpgid=ine_destaques&xlang=en

Activity Coverage:  NACE Rev. 2 Section B to E (excluding Division 36, 37 and 39). MIGS (capital goods, consumer durable and non-durable consumer goods, intermediate goods, energy).

Length of time series: from 01/2010 (NACE Rev.2, Base 2015)

Presentation: All of the series are transmitted and published as an index.

Identification of ministerial commentary on the occasion of statistical releases: No ministerial commentary is attached to the release of data by the statistical office.

Data for production are published in the “Boletim Mensal de Estatística” (Monthly Statistics Bulletin) available in Portuguese language only and can be purchased by ordering it from the Customer Support or directly at http://www.ine.pt/ > On Line Catalogue > General Statistics.
The “Anuário Estatístico de Portugal” (Statistical Yearbook of Portugal) is a bilingual publication (Portuguese/English) and can be purchased by ordering it from the Customer Support or directly at http://www.ine.pt/ > On Line Catalogue > General Statistics. It can also be viewed and/or downloaded in pdf/xls format, free of charge, at http://www.ine.pt/ > Statistical Data > General Statistics (X) Monthly bulletin.

Data are published in www.ine.pt (press release, excel format file and historical data access on-line database).

http://www.ine.pt/xportal/xmain?xpid=INE&xpgid=ine_base_dados&contexto=bd&selTab=tab2

There is no public dissemination of micro data. Micro data are available for scientific investigations after confidentiality treatment of data.

Data are sent to Eurostat to be used in European aggregates and/or to be released as national data.

Dissemination of documentation on methodology and sources used in preparing statistics

A detailed methodological note in Portuguese only for base year 2015 is available free at www.ine.pt document nº 182 at: http://smi-i.ine.pt/DocumentacaoMetodologica/Detalhes/1440

Description of standard tables produced

 The output price index in industry for:

• Domestic market is published for 85 Groups (3-digit level), 27 Divisions (2-digit level), for Sections B to E of NACE as well as Main Industrial Groups. There is no regional breakdown.
• External market is published for 24 Divisions (2-digit level), for Section B to C as well as Main Industrial Groups

Not available.

Monthly micro data are analyzed, checking the major changes on monthly and annual growth rates at enterprise level and also cross checking with other related variables of the unit’s answer. If necessary, units are contacted by telephone or email. Indices are analyzed to check the coherence of the results and, if necessary, the procedure is restarted.

All these procedures respect the quality policy defined in INE’s Code of Practice can be found at https://www.ine.pt/xportal/xmain?xpid=INE&xpgid=ine_inst_cqualidade

Indices are based on reliable data; Publication of results is always punctual; Further methodological details and other information can be found in point 13; multiple plausibility checks with different sources are done.

Short-term statistics are used by different national (such as Central Bank, Ministry of Finance and researchers) and international institutions (Eurostat) and non-institutional users, according to the needs expressed in the Statistical Superior Council (SSC). The SSC is the body where are analyzed the user’s needs and defined the Statics Program. 

Apart from occasional user surveys aimed at specific target groups, Statistics Portugal conducts 6 permanent user satisfaction surveys targeted at the users of 6 different SP services: the User Support Service (responding to information requests), SP Portal (website), SP Libraries, Study visits hosted by SP, Training sessions to basic and secondary school teachers aiming at improving statistical literacy and Training sessions in the context of Statistics Portugal Information Network in Higher Education Institutions Libraries.

User satisfaction measured in each of the permanent user satisfaction surveys is summarised into a user satisfaction index using the extreme balance responses (EBR). This approach values the extreme answers in detriment of the “central” valuations which tend to represent a less expressive dissatisfaction or satisfaction. The scale weights are as follows: EBR = F1 * (-1) + F2 * (-0,5) + F3 * (-0,25) + F4 * (0,25) + F5 * (0,5) + F6, where Fi means the relative frequency of observed values for each one of the categories i (i= 1,…,6). Data is referenced in a metric scale between -1 and +1, where values next to -1 mean full dissatisfaction and values near +1 mean full satisfaction.

Results have been steady since 2014 and the user satisfaction index reached 0.65 EBR in 2019.

The indices are fully compliant regarding STS-Regulation. There are no requests of additional information.

Although there isn’t an error evaluation in each reference period, all samples (at 3 digit level in all annexes) have been dimensioned to produce data with a precision of 5%.

It is not possible to indicate a classical sampling error.

Response Rate: A threshold of 85% is defined for dissemination.

Actions to speed up or increase the rate of response: A lot of checks are carried out at the micro and macro data level. For example the following processing errors may occur:

A) Treatment on micro-data-level

• Human errors during the data editing process: these errors are often recognized with automated checks – online validation of chain and YOY rates of the unit;
• Plausibility errors: a lot of checks are carried out automatically (but under possibility of human interaction): e.g. check of completeness/ sums/ horizontal logical dependences/ vertical relations/ average rates/ minimum/ maximum values, etc..
• Imputation errors: the imputed value is not within a plausible range of the per capita values by unit

The qualified checking of original respondent data, contacts to reporting units for corrections and the usage of sophisticated plausibility routines shall minimize the processing errors on micro-data-level.

B) Treatment on macro-data-level

• Final checks with analyze-tables (aggregates / more complex relations). These tables include all variables of the STS-survey. The macro data tables are verified by computer programs but also by the staff whether these macro-data as publication figures look plausible. The persons responsible for the index calculation have their own computer programs to test the index-plausibility of the different data at 3 and 2 digit level and for all aggregates. If inconsistencies are detected the data must be verified at micro-level again by using the raw data of the questionnaire.

• Model effects, such as:

Imputation errors: the usage of previous period values tends to result in under or overestimating the real development (especially if big enterprises' values are missing). Therefore specific imputation methods for missing data are used to correct these errors.

Overcoverage / Undercoverage: Classification errors and Overcoverage are observed especially at the reference periods of January due to changes of the respondent units (i.e. deaths of enterprises, changes in enterprise structures, new classifications). Undercoverage:

One of the reasons is the loss of responding units due to false classifications and the difficulty to find alternative enterprises during the reference year, yet it is not possible to quantify the under coverage rate.

Recommendations previewed in the Handbook on industrial producer price indices (PPI) - 2012 edition, are applied.

The response rate is normally very high for the first release, nevertheless in case of non-response the largest units are contacted by telephone and units may also be contacted by email. Ultimately a fine may be imposed.

This indicator is released 18 days after the end of the reference period. The monthly data is considered to be definitive one year after the end of the calendar year in which the reference month falls. Revisions are made to the two previous periods.

Timetable of data collection: Questionnaires are sent around the 15th of the reference month. The enterprises are requested to answer by the 25th of the reference month.

STS deadlines have been respected.

Due to harmonized STS indices in the European Union, it is possible to compare calculated Portuguese aggregates with those of other European countries. There is no regional desegregation, but all national territory is covered, including the AR’s (Azores and Madeira).

To ensure comparability over time, it is tried to keep the data base as steady as possible. STS indices are compared over time (previous month and year). Comparisons with NA accounts (quarter and annual) are made every 2 years. Base 2015 series have been back casted until 2010. Base 2010 series have been back casted until 2005. Comparisons with annual prodcom survey are done on a regular basis.

Cross-checks with absolute STS-values (previous month and year). At the first release moment no other data is available for comparisons.

At the first release moment no other data is available for comparisons. Confrontations are made with international developments of prices for raw materials and the consumer price index.

Totals (divisions, sections and MIG) are obtained by weighting e digit level indices.

Cost remain 4907 (this measurement wasn´t updated) and burden 24 minuts evaluated by inquiry made on 2019.

To reduce the respondents´burden whenever possible, administrative data collection is chosen.

The document “Politica de Revisões” (revision policy) contains the guidelines to follow. This document can be found following the link: https://www.ine.pt/xportal/xmain?xpid=INE&xpgid=ine_inst_cqualidade

The same revision policy is applied to both data released nationally and that sent to Eurostat.

For 36 months ending in december 2022 qpi

Type of source: Data are obtained through statistical surveys.

Frame on which the source is based: The General Register of Statistical Units (SIUE – Consulta de Unidades Estatísticas) for enterprises and Prodcom questionnaire for products (IAPI). The PRODCOM and SBS industrial surveys conducted by the National Statistics Institute (INE) are the sources of weights. For the external market the selection was made from exportes declared on International trade statistics surveys. These surveys cover around 25,000 kind-of-activity units.

Sample of census: Cut-off sample survey for monthly Prodcom.

Criteria for stratification: No stratification, besides NACE. The sample is drawn by cut off method from the whole population.

Threshold values and percentages: The most representative products in each 3 digit heading are selected. On average, the products in the basket account for 90% of total output in the group. The sample is 1824 KAU corresponding to 85 and 56 3-digit level NACE Rev.2 on internal and external market, respectivelly.

Frequency of updating the sample: Every five years.

Data are collected on a monthly basis.

Questionnaires used in the survey: The questionnaires that are used to collected data for the method of production prices use the Prodcom list as reference. Part of the electricity, gas and water prices are collected administratively

Planned changes in national questionnaires: None

Data collection media: The survey is carried out by an electronic questionnaire.

Planned changes in data collection methodology: Continuing to move on to web questionnaires.

Comparisons on line with previous month and n-12. Off line comparisons within the stratum of companies are done. Data is validated off line with previous and n-12 months.

Estimates for non-response:

•  Treatment of missing prices:

Missing prices are estimated with the growth rates from answers of the respective product level where product belongs. When there is no effective transaction, prices are imputed by dragging the prices of the previous month.

• Selection of replacement items:

Sub-sub varieties are replaced when they are permanently unavailable. In those cases, the reporting units propose a new product, which must have the same characteristics as the old sub-sub variety and be among the most representative for the enterprise.

Estimates for grossing-up to population levels: The sample results are not grossed-up; weighted with the reference population weights.

Type of index: The production index is expressed in a Laspeyres index and refers to a rate of change in the latest period compared to the previous period.

• Computation of lowest level indices:

An elementary index is obtained from the prices quoted by each separate producer unit for each sub-sub variety of products. The elementary indices are calculated by dividing the price in the reference month by the average price in the base year multiplied by 100, following Laspeyres formula, that is, the value of the index I for the activity i obtained by the variable value in t reference period compared to the annual average in the period 0 and obtained from the following formula:

 I_i (t)=(X ̂_i (t))/X ̅_i0 ×100;           t=1,2,…,12

• Aggregation formula:

Indices of sub-varieties are obtained by taking a simple average of the elementary indices. The more aggregate indices are obtained according to the Laspeyres formula. Weights are total sales at the detailed levels, and sales in domestic market at the CPA groups and higher levels.

The following formula is used:

I_g (t)=(∑_k▒〖p_k (0)×I_k (t)〗)/(∑_k▒〖p_k (0)〗)

Where p is the weight, i corresponds to the index, g is the aggregation level k of lower levels of activity, 0 is the base year and t is the current month.

• Aggregation structure:

Sub-sub varieties indices are aggregated into sub-variety, variety, product and 3-digit activity indices. The latter indices are further aggregated into two types of indices: (i) 2-digit subsection, section, and overall price indices; (ii) indices defined according to economic purpose (consumption goods, durable consumption goods, non-durable consumption goods, and intermediate goods).

Method of weighting and chaining: The weighting factor is the turnover for the 3-digit level of NACE Rev. 2, whereas below the 5 digit level of CAE the weights are the value of production, obtained from the PRODCOM survey.

Planned changes in production methods: Chaining indices for base year 2021.

Frequency of weight update: Every five years.

Not applicable.

Not available.