Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia (CSB)

Business statistics departament, Trade and services statistics section.

Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia

Lāčplēša Street 1,

Riga, LV-1301

LATVIA

Monthly Indicators : Net Turnover (index); Volume of sales (index)

Indicators are calculated using data from two surveys:

1) Monthly survey of Retail trade (“1–apgrozījums”) that includes the following indicators:

• (100 =110+120+130) Net turnover (kopējais neto apgrozījums);
• (110) Retail trade turnover (mazumtirdzniecības apgrozījums);
• (120) Wholesale trade  turnover (vairumtirdzniecības apgrozījums);
• (130) Turnover from other activities (citu nozaru apgrozījums).

1) Monthly survey of Wholesale trade and sale, maintenance and repair of motor vehicles their parts and accessories (“4–apgrozījums”) that includes the following indicators:

• (100 =110+120+130+140) Net turnover (kopējais neto apgrozījums);
• (110) Turnover from the sale of motor vehicle parts and accessories  ( automobiļu, to detaļu un piederumu apgrozījums);
• (120) Turnover from maintenance and repair of motor vehicle (automobiļu apkopes un remonta apgrozījums);
• (130) Wholesale trade  turnover (vairumtirdzniecības apgrozījums);
• (140) Turnover from other activities (citu nozaru apgrozījums).

The purpose of the survey is to provide data for the calculation of STS indicators and for the National Accounts for calculation of GDP.

Statistical Classification of Economic Activities in the European Community (NACE Rev.2).

1) The monthly survey of Retail trade covers enterprises where retail trade is the main activity (NACE Division 47). 

Observation units under the cut-off threshold are not included in the sampling frame.

Thresholds can be find in Annex "Cut-off thresholds 47 year 2022"

Enterprise size groups by turnover are defined different in each activity group.

2) The monthly survey of Wholesale trade and sale, maintenance and repair of motor vehicles their parts and accessories covers enterprises where wholesale trade or sale, maintenance and repair of motor vehicle parts and accessories is the main activity (NACE Division 45 and 46). 

Observation units under the cut-off threshold are not included in the sampling frame.

Thresholds can be find in Annex "Cut-off thresholds 45_46 year 2022"

Enterprise size groups by turnover are defined different in each activity group.

Main concept is Net turnover.

The objective of the turnover index is to show the development of the market for goods and services.

Net turnover comprises the totals invoiced by the observation unit during the reference period, and this corresponds to market sales of goods or services supplied to third parties.

Turnover also includes all other charges (transport, packaging, etc.) passed on to the customer, even if these charges are listed separately in the invoice.

Turnover excludes VAT and other similar deductible taxes directly linked to turnover as well as all duties and taxes on the goods or services invoiced by the unit.

Enterprise

1) The monthly survey of Retail trade

The target population covers economically active enterprises during the year 2021 whose main activity is retail trade (NACE Rev. 2. = 47).

The sampling frame is made from Statistical Business Register and consists of economically active enterprises during the year 2021. During 2022 the sampling frame is regulary (monthly) updated by adding new enterprises.

See attached annex - "Sampling frame 47 year 2022"

In 2022 this survey  realized a sample of 1179 enterprises.

2) The monthly survey of Wholesale trade and sale, maintenance and repair of motor vehicles their parts and accessories

The target population covers economically active enterprises during the year 2021 whose main activity is wholesale turnover and turnover from the sale, maintenance and repair of motor vehicle parts and accessories (NACE Rev. 2. = 45 ; 46).

The sampling frame is made from Statistical Business Register and consists of economically active enterprises during the year 2021. During 2022 the sampling frame is regulary (monthly) updated by adding new enterprises.

See attached annex - "Sampling frame 45_46 year 2022"

In 2021 this survey  realized a sample of 999 enterprises.

Latvia.

Time series of monthly turnover and value of sales in retail trade  according to NACE Rev. 2 are available from 2000.

Until the end of 2022, the length of the series is 276 months.

Time series of monthly turnover and value of sales in wholesale trade  according to NACE Rev. 2 are available from 2015.

Until the end of 2022, the length of the series is 96 months.

Time series of monthly turnover and value of sales  from sale, maintenance and repair of motor vehicle parts and accessories  according to NACE Rev. 2 are available from 2000.

Until the end of 2022, the length of the series is 276 months.

Year 2015=100.

Indices (%).

Month.

Statistics Law adopted by Saeima on 4 June 2015, is a legal base for all statistics. 

The questionnaire is adopted by the Rules of Cabinet of Minister of the Republic of Latvia No 812 of 20 December 2016.

Rules of Cabinet of Minister of the Republic of Latvia No 782 of 30 November 2021 concerning to Official StatisticsProgramme program for the years 2022 - 2024

REGULATION (EU) 2019/2152 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 27 November 2019 on European business statistics, repealing 10 legal acts in the field of business statistics

COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) 2020/1197 of 30 July 2020 laying down technical specifications and arrangements pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2019/2152 of the European Parliament and of the Council on European business statistics repealing 10 legal acts in the field of business statistics

No data transmitted to other international organizations, except EUROSTAT.

Confidentiality of the information provided by respondents is protected by the Statistics Law stipulating rights and obligations of the Central Statistical Bureau and other state authorities producing official statistics.

From January 2016  the new Statistics Law entered into force. 

Data are published only at a level of activity at which it is not confidential. Confidential data is not given to users.

Data are confidential if (primary criteria for determining confidentiality):

• A summary score derived from one two or three statistical units (enterprises);
• Share of the one statistical unit (enterprise) is 80% or more;
• Share of the summary from two statistical units (enterprise) is 90% or more.

Release calendar is publicly accessible on the Official Statistics Portal. The data are published within one month after the end of the reference period. The data are released simultaneously to all interested parties by issuing a press release at 13.00 o’clock of the local time.

Release calendar is available on the Official Statistics Portal.

The data are released simultaneously to all interested parties by issuing the press release "Retail trade turnover" to the media. Only the Ministry of Economics and the Ministry of Finance is provided with an embargoed copy of the press release 1 hour in advance for information and it is embargoed until the statistics office has released the data.

Release calendar for users is available for period T+12Months

The users are informed in Official Statistics Portal about latest information published in the database.

Data are transmitted to Eurostat on the same day that the data are published in Official Statistics Portal.

Monthly.

The CSB of Latvia publishes a short description of the retail trade turnover index in the regular monthly news release “Turnover of retail trade” in Latvian and English.

Turnover indices are at current and constant prices and calculated in the form of non-adjusted, seasonally adjusted and calendar adjusted data.

News release includes data for retail trade (NACE Rev. 2 Division 47).

A monthly press release is made available to the media and is published on the Official statistics Portal. The official release of the data usually is not accompanied by comments from a Government Ministry.

News releases about  Wholesale trade and sale, maintenance and repair of motor vehicles their parts and accessories are not produced.

Retail trade turnover indices are published  in "Latvia. Statistics in Brief" and  “Statistical Yearbook of Latvia”.

All CSB publications will be available in PDF format on the the Official Statistics Portal for free downloading. To obtain publications in paper form, users have to complete special order form.

Data on Wholesale trade and sale, maintenance and repair of motor vehicles their parts and accessories are not included in the publications produced by the CSB Latvia.

Data of Retail trade  available on the Official statistics portal database under section Trade and Services.

Time series from January 2000.

Turnover indices and volume of sale available in the form of non-adjusted, seasonally adjusted and calendar adjusted data.

The indices are calculated every month and quarter against the previous month/quarter, against the corresponding period of the previous year and against the average monthly/quarterly turnover of 2015.  

Date tables TIT010; TIT010c; TIT010m; TIT021m; TIT021c

Data of  Wholesale trade and sale, maintenance and repair of motor vehicles their parts and accessories available on the Official statistics portal database under section Trade and Services.

Time series of Wholesale trade  from January 2015.

Time series of sale, maintenance and repair of motor vehicles their parts and accessories  from January 2000.

Turnover indices and volume of sale available in the form of non-adjusted, seasonally adjusted and calendar adjusted data.

The indices are calculated every month and quarter against the previous month/quarter, against the corresponding period of the previous year and against the average monthly/quarterly turnover of 2015.  

Date tables TIT020; TIT020c; TIT020m

Not available.

Data on turnover indices of Retail trade, Wholesale trade and sale, maintenance and repair of motor vehicles their parts and accessories available on the homepage of Statistical Office of the European Union (Eurostat) in section: Industry, Trade and Services/ Short-term business statistics/ Trade and Services.

A methodological description of the survey and data is available on the Official statistics portal under section Trade and Services together with each  data table ("Description meatdata")

Management Systems of the Central Statistical Bureau (CSB) are certified according to requirements of ISO 9001:2015 standard "Quality management systems – Requirements" and information security management system standard ISO 27001:2013.  

The Quality Policy of CSB consists of the CSB's vision, mission, core values and commitment to meet the requirements, follow good practice and ensure continuous improvement.

The quality policy is designed and implemented in accordance with the CSB strategy (3-year period) and the action plan.

The National Statistical System of Latvia (hereinafter – NSS of Latvia) is established by statistical institutions and the Statistical Council. The managing institution of the NSS of Latvia is the Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia (hereinafter – the CSB), which implements functional subordination over other statistical institutions in the field of production of official statistics, providing methodological guidelines, by supervising the conformity of production of official statistics with the laws and regulations, and also by issuing orders that are required to produce official statistics.

To ensure that NSS of Latvia has common principles and requirements, CSB has developed the Quality Policy of the National Statistical System of Latvia and imposed total quality requirements for statistical institutions which are based on European Statistics Code of Practice.

For implementation of Quality Policy of the NSS of Latvia, the CSB has developed a Memorandum of Understanding, by which the statistical institutions confirm their commitment to implementing and promoting quality standards in their statistical institutions.

Guidelines for Implementation of European Statistics Code of Practice were developed to facilitate common perception and understanding of the requirements imposed by the Code of Practice. Based on the situation in Latvia, the Guidelines explain principles of the Code, as well as indicators and statistical terms used, moreover, requirements are supplemented with binding national legislation, explanatory information, and examples of good practice.

The Quality Policy of CSB consists of the CSB's vision, mission, core values and commitment to meet the requirements, follow good practice and ensure continuous improvement. The quality policy is designed and implemented in accordance with the CSB strategy (3-year period) and the action plan.

Statistical dissemination policy defines general principles of statistical data dissemination, availability of CSB`s products and services for data users, communication with data users, cooperation with the media, availability of individual data for scientific and educational purposes.

Indices on Retail trade, Wholesale trade and sale, maintenance and repair of motor vehicles their parts and accessories are produced in compliance with methodological requirements and standards.

Indicators of compliance, accuracy and reliability, timeliness and punctuality, comparability and coherence are recorded on a monthly basis.

The main users are: Eurostat, the Ministry of Economics, Ministry of Finance, Bank of Latvia, European Central Bank, Business Associations, Quarterly National Accounts Section of Macroeconomic Statistics Department (internal user), students, media and enterprises.

In 2022 the user satisfaction survey about short term statistics on Retail trade, Wholesale trade and sale, maintenance and repair of motor vehicles their parts and accessories was not conducted.

All statistics on Retail trade, Wholesale trade and sale, maintenance and repair of motor vehicles their parts and accessories is available in accordance with requirements of the regulations in 2022:

REGULATION (EU) 2019/2152 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 27 November 2019 on European business statistics, repealing 10 legal acts in the field of business statistics

COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) 2020/1197 of 30 July 2020 laying down technical specifications and arrangements pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2019/2152 of the European Parliament and of the Council on European business statistics repealing 10 legal acts in the field of business statistics

The sampling error in the data and the non-sampling error is small. The first estimates are not biased. The results are normally final after two months from the first release.

The monthly survey of Retail trade 

Simple random sampling without replacement method (SRSWOR) was used.

Smallest units (about 38% of population) with total yearly turnover contribution under cut-off thresholds are not included in sample frame in 2022.

Coefficients of variation are calculated for the NACE 2.Rev division 47 and for the main aggregates of this division.

See annex – coefficients of variation 45_46_47 year 2022.

 The monthly survey of Wholesale trade and sale, maintenance and repair of motor vehicles their parts and accessories

Simple random sampling without replacement method (SRSWOR) method was used.

Smallest units (about 35% of population) with total yearly turnover contribution under cut-off thresholds are not included in sample frame in 2022.

See annex – coefficients of variation 45_46_47 year 2022.

The monthly survey of Retail trade 

Over-coverage rate is on average 2.0%.

The average size-weighted  over-coverage rate is on average 0.6%.

The average design-weighted  over-coverage rate is on average 6.8%.

The  average unit response rate for retail trade is 90.0%.

The  average size -weighted  unit response rate for retail trade is 98.6%.

The  average design -weighted  unit response rate for retail trade is 77.8%.

Data can be submitted electronically (used by 84.6% of the respondents), and by phone or e-mail.

At the time when data are provided to Eurostat and published nationally the response rate is the same.

For increasing the response rate there is an e-mail reminder of non-respondents as well as a telephone follow up.

Missing data imputation is used to compensate the non-response of the large enterprices. VAT data or the data of the previous period  corrected with the average growth rate in the activity concerned are apllied for imputation. Average imputation rate in 2022 was 3,2%.

 The monthly survey of Wholesale trade and sale, maintenance and repair of motor vehicles their parts and accessories

Over-coverage rate is on average 2.6%.

The  average unit response rate for retail trade is 93.5%.

The  average weighted  unit response rate for retail trade is 85.8%.

Data can be submitted electronically (used by 92.3% of the respondents), and by phone or e-mail. At the time when data are provided to Eurostat and published nationally the response rate is the same. For increasing the response rate there is an e-mail reminder of non-respondents as well as a telephone follow up. Missing data imputation is used to compensate the non-response of the large enterprices. VAT data or the data of the previous period  corrected with the average growth rate in the activity concerned are apllied for imputation. Average imputation rate in 2022 was 2,2%.

The monthly survey of Retail trade 

According to the publication calendar, data are published on the Latvian Official Statistics Portal on the 29th day (in February -28) after the reference period or on the previous working day, if this day falls on a holiday.

On the same day, the data are also sent to Eurostat. In 2022, data are always published according to plan.

The information letters about questionnaires for the next year are sent to respondents at the end of the year.

The deadline for replies to questionnaires is the 9th day after the end of each reference month. The data collection is closed approximately on the 20th day after the reference month.

The monthly survey of Wholesale trade and sale, maintenance and repair of motor vehicles their parts and accessories

According to the publication calendar, data are published on the Latvian Official Statistics Portal on the 1 month + 30th day  (in february -28) after the reference period or on the previous working day, if this day falls on a holiday.

On the same day, the data are also sent to Eurostat. In 2022, data are always published according to plan.

The information letters about questionnaires for the next year are sent to respondents at the end of the year.

The deadline for replies to questionnaires is the 20th day after the end of each reference month. The data collection is closed approximately on the 30th day after the reference month.

The monthly survey of Retail trade  

The monthly survey of Wholesale trade and sale, maintenance and repair of motor vehicles their parts and accessories

The data are published and sent to Eurostat in accordance with CSB/Eurostat release calendar. Data are published according to shedule 100%.

The statistics are produced following the principles of the Regulation (EU) 2019/2152, so the results are comparable between EU countries. The same statistical concepts are applied in the entire Latvian territory.

The monthly survey of Retail trade  

Data are comparable since year 2000.

Until the end of 2022, the length of the series is 276 months.

The monthly survey of Wholesale trade and sale, maintenance and repair of motor vehicles their parts and accessories

Time series of monthly turnover and value of sales in wholesale trade  according to NACE Rev. 2 are available from 2015.

Until the end of 2022, the length of the series is 96 months.

Time series of monthly turnover and value of sales  from sale, maintenance and repair of motor vehicle parts and accessories  according to NACE Rev. 2 are available from 2000.

Until the end of 2022, the length of the series is 276 months.

When yearly statistics are available the cross-checking with the yearly data is done. The monthly turnover data is checked with the administrative data from the State Revenue Service.

Data are also compared with results of business trend surveys

The aggregates are consistent with their main sub-aggregates each month.

The monthly survey of Retail trade  

CSB total cost was 4157 hours per year.

In 2022 (12 month) total burden of respondents was 2921 hours for all enterprises.

The monthly survey of Wholesale trade and sale, maintenance and repair of motor vehicles their parts and accessories

CSB total cost was 4409 hours per year.

In 2022 (12 month) total burden of respondents was 1158 hours for all enterprises.

CSB Revision policy has been laid down in accordance with European Union and international recommendations and good practice.

The same Revision policy is applied nacionally and in transmissions to Eurostat.

Within the context of survey of Retail trade and survey of Wholesale trade and sale, maintenance and repair of motor vehicles their parts and accessories statistics routine revisions of statistical data concern:

- Further revision of the published data, adding revised or more detailed information;

• Example: when publishing the data on turnover indices in March the indices on February are revised, because respondents, reports received from which were imputed in February, have submitted reports on or have made corrections in reports on previous period (February).

- Revision of the published data, using the seasonal adjustment method;

• Example: as the data on new period are added, the seasonally or working day adjusted retail trade turnover index may change every month, because mathematical programme recalculates all previous periods of the time series.

- Revision of the published data in accordance with the changes in methodology or classifications.

• Example: retail trade turnover index data series were changed in January 2009, due to the introduction of the NACE Rev. 2. 

Methodological changes are announced at the time of the changes. Major changes, like the implementation of NACE Rev.2, are announced before being introduced.

Revision Policy Guidelines are available on the CSB website.

Data could be revised:

• After specification of operational data;
• After specification of aspects of enterprises business activity field;
• After seasonal adjustment;
• After methodological changes.

Regularity of data revision:

• Non-adjusted data every month for the previous 2 months (if the data change is greater than 1% for NACE class);
• Seasonally and calendar adjusted data each month for all previously published periods (till year 2000).

The same revision policy is applied nationally and for data transmitted to Eurostat.

Calculataed values of MAR, RMAR in attached file "TRADE_Revisions 2022".

Data on Retail Trade Turnover are collected from the monthly Statistical Survey on Turnover (questionnaire "1-apgrozījums").

Sampling frame is made using information from Statistical Business Register (SBR).

A new sample drawn every year.

The sample is constructed as a stratified simple random sample. In order to divide enterprises into strata the following criteria are taken into account:

• Main activity of the enterprise according NACE Rev. - enterprises divided into 23 NACE groups
• The enterprise turnover - in each NACE group enterprises divided in maximum 8 turnover groups

Data on Turnover of  Wholesale trade and sale, maintenance and repair of motor vehicles their parts and accessories are collected from the monthly Statistical Survey on Turnover (questionnaire "4-apgrozījums").

Sampling frame is made using information from Statistical Business Register (SBR).

A new sample drawn every year.

The sample is constructed as a stratified simple random sample. In order to divide enterprises into strata the following criteria are taken into account:

• Main activity of the enterprise according NACE Rev. - enterprises divided into 10 NACE groups
• The enterprise turnover - in each NACE group enterprises divided in maximum 8 turnover groups

Part of the sampled enterprises (~48%) are not surveyed - their monthly data are integrated from administrative sources (VAT declaration).

Monthly.

One standard type of questionnaires are used each month.

The survey on turnover of Retail trade “1-apgrozijums” (1-turnover) is used for data collection and it is collected from retail trade enterprises NACE Rev. 2 Division 47.

The survey on turnover of  Wholesale trade and sale, maintenance and repair of motor vehicles their parts and accessories  “4-apgrozijums” (4-turnover) is used for data collection and it is collected from retail trade enterprises NACE Rev. 2 Divisions 45;46.

Sampling frame is made using information from Statistical Business Register (SBR).

The main mode of data collection in both surveys is e-questionnaire.

For survey on turnover of  Wholesale trade and sale, maintenance and repair of motor vehicles their parts and accessories part of the sampled enterprises (~48%) are not surveyed - their monthly data are integrated from administrative sources (VAT declaration).

The CSB has the main program used for data entering, processing with automatic control and validation tools - ISDMS (Integrated Statistical Data Management System). The electronic form of questionnaire contains built-in logical controls that draw respondent's attention to possible errors. Data received via electronic questionnaire are further validated by statisticians, using built-in logical controls. When the ISDMS software indicates a possible error, statistician requests the respondent to confirm or to correct data.  

 The obtained results are compared over the previous period, the same period with the previous year and the base year. The data are compared also with available statistics data (financial and other surveys), administrative data from State Revenue Service. The STS data are compared with SBS data as well. 

The data of large non-respondent enterprises are imputed from the previous period responses of the enterprise, corrected with the average growth rate in the activity concerned.

For others in order to take into account response rate within each of the stratum the stratum sample size is replaced by the number of enterprises participating in the survey.

The results are grossed up. The weights are calculated as a ratio of the number of enterprises in the population and the number of respondents in each stratum.

The grossed up data are used for the calculation of indices. The indices are calculated from the turnover in constant and current prices, non-adjusted, seasonally adjusted and working day adjusted. 

The turnover index at current prices is compiled by comparing the new value of the reporting period directly with the average value of the base period.

The turnover index at constant prices in NACE sections is calculated by deflating turnover. This is done by dividing the total turnover by the corresponding consumer price index for Retail trade and sale, maintenance and repair of motor vehicles their parts and accessories.

Deflators for wholesale turnover are obtained by combining producer price indices and import price indices.

The details of statistical procedures used for adjusting of the survey trade data are described in the annexes "SA  turnover indeces in trade 2022"

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