Statistics Netherlands

Bussiness statistics, The Hague.

Henri Faasdreef 312, 2492 JP Den Haag 

Index numbers of: Volume of sales (deflated turnover), Turnover (value), Prices of retail trade.

Prices are derived from CPI. Prices are used to calculate volumes of ales.

 NACE Rev. 2.

Division G45, G46 and G47 in NACE Rev. 2 except for Class G47.73 (dispensing chemists). Units with 2 persons employed or more are covered for G47. G45 and G46 are covered for all size classes of employed persons.

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

No changes in data collection are foreseen, other than the use of VAT information to calibrate the results of the sample survey.

Data refers to the calendar month.

Reporting unit: The reporting unit is the enterprise.

Observation unit: The observation unit is the enterprise.

The statistical population comprises the observation units (enterprises) operating in the NACE division:
G45: 31.000 units
G46: 80.000 units
G47: 157.000 units.

Geographical area covered: the Netherlands.

Activities that are carried out outside the national territory of the reporting country are in general not included in the aggregates.

G45: Data of first use as source: 2003.
G46: Data of first use as source: 2003.
G47: Data of first use as source: 1960.

Base year: Year 2015 = 100.

Indices, percentage change (%).

G45 and G46

Reference year of this report: 2015.

The periodicity of the data is quarterly.

G47:

Reference year of this report: 2015.

The periodicity is monthly.

Legal basis: Statistics Netherlands is fully independent in terms of its statistical operations with respect to methodology and publications. Independence was granted by the Royal Act of 1899 and reconfirmed by law in 1996 and 2003. The CBS Law of 2003 is available in English and Dutch. The public can find it at the CBS website (https://www.cbs.nl/-/media/_pdf/2017/28/statistics-netherlands-act-2019.pdf ).

Obligation on units to provide data: The Law of 2003 established the Central Bureau of Statistics and the Central Commission for Statistics. Section 3 states: “The task of the CBS is to carry out statistical research for the government for practice, policy and research purposes and to publish the statistics compiled on the basis of such research". For the surveys carried out under the provisions of the Law of 2003 irregularities with respect the obligation to provide information can be punished with a fine of a maximum of EUR 5,000 but there have been no examples of penalties in recent years.

Planned changes in legal basis, obligation to respon and frame used: No changes in legal basis are planned.

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 (EBS-Regulation)

Commission Implementing Regulation 2020/1197 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 statistic (General Implementing Act)

The Law of 2003 established the Central Bureau of Statistics and the Central Commission for Statistics. Section 3 states: “The task of the CBS is to carry out statistical research for the government for practice, policy and research purposes and to publish the statistics compiled on the basis of such research". Sections 33 through 36 describe the collection of information, sections 37 and 38 describe the use of information gathering and sections 39 through 42 the dissemination of results. The most relevant clauses are the following. Section 33: “The director general is authorised to use, for statistical purposes, data from registers (..) the director general is authorised to request, for statistical purposes, data (..) from the categories of companies, independent professionals, institutions and legal persons (..).” Section 37: “The data (..) shall be used solely for statistical purposes. The data (..)shall only be published in such a way that no recognisable data can be derived from them about an individual person, household, company or institution, unless, (..) there are good reasons to assume that the company or institution concerned will not have any objections to the publication.” The CBS Law of 2003 is available in English and Dutch. The public can find it at the CBS website (Statistics Netherlands Act (cbs.nl)).

Some of the data are sent to OECD and UN.

Statistics Netherlands is fully independent in terms of its statistical operations with respect to methodology and publications. Independence was granted by the Royal Act of 1899 and reconfirmed by law in 1996 and 2003. Data provision was made compulsory by law in 1936. Confidentiality is guaranteed. Individual data are never published without consent. The Royal Act of 1899 and the Law of 1996 have been repealed by the Law of 20 November 2003. This Law on the Central Bureau of Statistics describes the independence of the director-general of Statistics Netherlands: “The director general shall determine the methods by which the studies included in the work programme and the multiannual programme will be carried out and the manner in which the results of those studies will be published”. The Law of 2003 established the Central Bureau of Statistics and the Central Commission for Statistics. Section 3 states: “The task of the CBS is to carry out statistical research for the government for practice, policy and research purposes and to publish the statistics compiled on the basis of such research". Sections 33 through 36 describe the collection of information, sections 37 and 38 describe the use of information gathering and sections 39 through 42 the dissemination of results. The most relevant clauses are the following. Section 33: “The director general is authorised to use, for statistical purposes, data from registers (..) the director general is authorised to request, for statistical purposes, data (..) from the categories of companies, independent professionals, institutions and legal persons (..).” Section 37: “The data (..) shall be used solely for statistical purposes. The data (..) shall only be published in such a way that no recognisable data can be derived from them about an individual person, household, company or institution, unless, (..) there are good reasons to assume that the company or institution concerned will not have any objections to the publication.” The CBS Law of 2003 is available in English and Dutch. The public can find it at the dutch government site.(http://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0015926/2014-07-26).

 Confidential data are treated by suppression or by aggregation.

Advance dissemination of release calander: A  release calendar is published in the schedule by date of Statistics Netherlands. When approximate release dates are given, the precise dates are announced on the last working day of the week prior to the release.

https://www.cbs.nl/nl-nl/publicatieplanning

Simultaneous release to all interested parties: The data are released simultaneously to all interested parties at 6:30 a.m. CET. At the same time the data is also sent to subscribers by e-mail. The untitled press release is subsequently posted on the Statistics Netherlands Internet website. https://www.cbs.nl/nl-nl/economie/bedrijven

Identification of internal government access to data before release: There is no government access to the data prior to their release to the public. Data are transmitted to Eurostat by teletransmission the same day as the press release.

Transmission to Eurostat and further use of the statistics: The transmission is done by use of e-DAMIS Web Application using the Gesmes coding system.

G45 and G46:
Results are disseminated every quarter.

G47:
Results are disseminated once a month.

Identification of ministerial commentary on the occasion of statistical releases: Ministerial commentary and data from Statistics Netherlands are fully separated.
New data for the G45 and G46 is available every quarter through the online database StatLine.
New data for G47 is available every month after the reference month through an online database (Statline). The results are simulataneously published in a press release. The time series start in 2000.
New data for G45 is available every quarter through the online database StatLine. There are seperate tables for 1. Nace I, and 2. Nace J+M+N. The results for Nace I are published in a press release every quarter. The other data are published in a web magazine.

Name of national paper publications: There are no paper publications of these results.

Name of national electronic dissemination: The data are published in a Press release.

The data are published on the CBS Website (http://www.cbs.nl) in Statline.

Under certain conditions, Statistics Netherlands’ Centre for Policy Related Statistics (CvB) can make microdata (anonymous data at the level of individual persons and businesses) available for statistical research.

Data are sent to Eurostat (edamis), OECD and UN (by E-mail).

Dissemination of documentation on methodology and sources used in preparing statistics: A short description is available, at: https://www.cbs.nl/nl-nl/onze-diensten/methoden/onderzoeksomschrijvingen/korte-onderzoeksbeschrijvingen/omzetontwikkeling

Not available.

Summary description of quality criteria calculated for national purposes: The weighted response rate has to be above 70% for total retail trade if turnover figures are to be published.

There are different policies and procedures guarantying quality. Statical improvements are reviewed by an independent department. There is also a list of methods that have been accepted as best practice. New statistics should use these methods or only deviate with good reasons. Every month the results of STS statistics are validated by a independent ststistician.

The quality of the STS statistics are considered good. All quality aspects for STS statistics have been covered.

STS provide statistical information necessary to monitor the competitiveness and performance of the business community in the EU. The STS are used by different users (European Commission and ECB, national governments and central banks, economic analysts in private companies and financial institutions) and serve different purposes.

User satisfaction is measured via download statistics of the online databank and with ad hoc user consultations. Further there is no systematic collection of user opinion. Feedback is occasionally given in meetings, email or telephone contacts etc.

G45 and G46

All figures for NACE are available. Unadjusted figures are published, seasonally adjusted data are confidential. Trading day and working day adjusted figures are included.

G47

Figures for NACE 4773 are unavailable. Unadjusted and seasonally adjusted figures are published. Trading day adjusted figures are included.

G47: The accuracy is tackled by eliminating as much as possible non-sampling errors, by calculating sampling errors and studying and analysing revisions.

Sources: The most important sources are the business register and survey data. The business register is the source for sampling and grossing up the sample results to population totals. The STS information is gathered by electronic and paper questionaires sent to enterprises.  The quality of both sources is considered good. The statistical errors are considered small.

The business registered is considered to be a good source for producing unbiased STS figures. The business register is updated every month using both information of the chambers of commerce and information from the Tax authorities. The over/undercoverage of the business register is very small. Since the business register is used as the sampling frame and the frame for grossing up the figures, no significant bias is expected for the STS totals.

"The survey results are usually also of good quality. In some instances though, enterprises provide the wrong information. Some reasons for providing wrong information are:

* Enterprises provide information in euro's instead of k-euro's.

* Enterprises fill in information for only part of the business unit (for example 1 legal unit).

* Enterprises fill in the results for the wrong period.

In these cases extensive editing is necessary to correct the results."

* The quality of the T+30 figures is slightly lower then the later estimates, partly since not all survey errors are corrected at this point.

The sample is selected in a way to mimimise both margins of errors and at the same time prevent any significant bias in the results (see also 13.2)

The impact of non-respons is only limited due to high respons percentages (see 13.3)

Especially the last years Statistics Netherlands has been extending and improving the use of VAT information. For retail the use of VAT information to further improve turnover estimates has not been implemented yet.

G45 and G46: Full coverage is achieved by using VAT data and a survey for large enterprises. VAT data is only used for enterprises where VAT data is available. In order to determine the correct turnover, large enterprises, especially enterprises part of an international enterprise group, are surveyed by electronic questionnaire. 

Only relevant for G47: Sampling errors are calculated on an irregular basis,in order to update/optimise the sample design if needed.
Census for persons employed >=50; sample survey for persons employed 2-50.
The sample is basically a fixed sample. Every month however some minor adjustments are made to the sample to take into account population dynamics (birth and death of units). Furthermore once a year part of the sample is refreshed (about 20%). This is done for spreading the administrative burden of enterprises and also for making sure the sample is well allocated after annually updating some characteristics (NACE activity and size class) in the business register. This approach is considered to be a good way of balancing all the different reguirements (low vc's, little bias, and the spreading of burden for enterprises).
The sampling error expressed in terms of standard deviation of the indices of retail trade volume is 0,2 for total retail trade, 0,3 for food and 0,4 index point for the non-food segment.

The results of the questionaires are extensively checked and if necessary edited. For the largest units, the results are checked by a specialised organisational unit within Statistics Netherlands. This special unit has the ability to check the results with other data sources, profiling information and information derived from account management.
For the smaller units the data of a specific enterprise is checked mainly by the use of time series information of the unit.
For the first delivery of figures (t+30 days) the time for data editing is relatively short. This means that the largest mistakes in the survey data can be corrected, but not all smaller errors. Some revisison of the results can therefore be necessary. Usually the differences between the first and final estimates are between 0.1 and 0.5 index points for total retail. Since larger corrections can occasionally occur, Statistics Netherlands chooses not to publish the T+30 results.
Response rate: The survey is compulsory. When first published, 40-45 days after the end of the reference month, the weighted response rate is around 90%. Missing responses are followed up by reminders in a first stage and then by telephone contacts.
Actions to speed up or increase the rate of response: Not Relevant
The first estimates have no or only little bias. This mainly due to a high respondents rate.
The final estimates also has little or no bias.

Timeliness:

G45 and G46

Timeliness: The first preliminary results are to be published 60 days after the reference quarter. These dates are fixed for a period of one year in advance. Data will be revised 12 months after the first release.

Timetable of data collection:

• Quarterly questionnaires are sent to the reporting unit at the end of the reference quarter asking for a reply within two weeks.
• Monthly questionnaires are sent at the end of the reference month, asking for a reply within 10 working days. There is no fixed date for closing the data collection, but the indices are supposed to be definitive after 4 months.

G47

The first preliminary results are published 30 days after the end of the reference month. These dates are fixed for a period of one year in advance. More detailed information is available 60 days after the reference period.

Timetable of data collection: Monthly questionnaires are sent at the end of the reference month, asking for a reply within 10 working days. There is no fixed date for closing the data collection, but the indices are supposed to be definitive after 4 months.

 All releases are published according to the release calendar.

The STS Regulations and the STS methodological guidelines are applied by the countries transmitting STS data. This ensures a good comparability between national data and good-quality European aggregates. However, the data are not 100% comparable with other countries. Each country may apply different collection methods (surveys, use of administrative sources) and different calculation procedures for the data. Within the Netherlands, no seperate geographical data is compiled, thus there is no comparability between regions.

The time series 2003-2013 should be comparable over time, since no major changes in methodology or sources have been implemented in that period. Some smaller adjustments have been made to the business register in 2006 and 2009. The planned introduction of administrative data in 2014/2015 in retail statistics could lead to some continuity problems.

Dissemination of information that support statistical cross-checks and provide assurance of reasonableness: Cross-checking is facilitated by using the same frame in different statistics (Business register) and by using the NACE classification system.

Confrontation with other data sets: The results are confronted with the results of other data sources.

Data is internally coherent.

 G45:

The persons hour per year for SN is about 800 hours. The respondents burden is estimated at 1200 hours per year.

 G46:

The persons hour per year for SN is about 3000 hours. The respondents burden is estimated at 5000 hours per year.

G47:

 The persons hour per year for SN is about 4000 hours. The respondents burden is estimated at 6000 hours per year

The Statistical office release policy makes a distinction between adjustments, corrections and revisions. The published results can be changed over time due to several reasons:
- Adjustments are changes due to extra information from enterprises and due to working day adjustment
- Corrections for large, apparent mistakes (for example serious editing or processing errors): This type of change is applied very rarely.
- Revisions are due to the change of methodology or base year.

The National and STS revision strategy is the same. New figures are published once a month for STS purposes. Figures of preceding periods can/will be adjusted in these releases only. The same revision policy is applied nationally and in transmissions to Eurostat.
The revision policy is described in the explanation of the online database tables. In case of changes in methodology or major changes in the data, the public will be informed on the internet website of Statistics Netherlands (http://www.cbs.nl).

Adjustments

G45 and G46:

Provision of information about revision and advance notice of major changes in methodology: The revision policy is described in the explanation of the online database tables. In case of changes in methodology or major changes in the data, the public will be informed on the internet website of Statistics Netherlands.

The revised figures of the previous year are published nationally together with the publication of the first quarter of the next year and also sent to Eurostat to assure coherence.

MR and MAR are available on section level:

MR and MAR for the G47 are not available.

G47

Statistics Netherlands usually publishes the first results four weeks after the reporting period. Up to sixty days after the quarter, figures may be adjusted as increased response becomes available. After that the figures will not be changed. Five months after the reporting year, all late response is used to compile the definite figures, for all months in the reporting year. Until that point, figures are provisional. After that, figures are definite.
Once definite figures have been published, Statistics Netherlands only adjusts them if significant corrections are necessary.

Errors
Revisions due to errors didn't occur in the past 3 years. 

Type of source: Statistical survey.

Frame on which the source is based: The General Business Register (Algemeen Bedrijfsregister - ABR).

Sample or census: Each branch is surveyed using a stratified sample with an exhaustive stratum. The sample is taken from enterprises with between 2 and 50 employees; the exhaustive survey is based upon all enterprises with 50 employees or more. Also enterprises that are part of a ‘complex enterprise group’ are in the exhaustive survey.

Criteria for stratification: Characteristics used for stratification of the sample are the main activity in terms of (sub)groups and size classes of employment.

Threshold values and percentages: Criteria for stratification: Units with 2 or more persons employed are sampled. The sampling rates are as follows:

• 1 persons employed = 0%
• 2-4 persons employed = 9%
• 5-9 persons employed =15%
• 10-19 persons employed = 35%
• 20-49 persons employed = 73%
• 50+ persons employed = 100%

Frequency of updating the sample: The sample is updated yearly, in January. Moreover there is a monthly refreshment for enterprise deaths and births.

G45 and G46:

Quarterly.

G47:

Monthly.

Questionnaires used in the survey: Monthly or quarterly questionnaire on sales and some additional branch-specific information such as purchase value of commodities.

Planned changes in national questionnaires: No changes in national questionnaires are planned.

Data collection media: Most of the data collection is done by electronic means, both e-mail and direct connection, after receiving a log-in code by mail. A small part of the collection is by postal questionnaire and other means.

Planned changes in data collection methodology: Quarterly VAT-data (census approach) will be used to calibrate the quarterly survey results starting in 2014/2015.

Data validation is performed as a final step before releasing/disseminating the data. The validation is performed by an independent statistician.

The data file structure is vailidated in the program Genedi. The results of STS are presented in excel-datatables and graphs. The validity of the results is done by examing the tables and graphs.

Estimates for non-response: Estimation for non-response: — the last response is used for estimation by using the trend of the responding units in the same stratum up to 6 months in the past;— if there is no recent response the average of responding units in the same activity and size-class is used.

Estimates for grossing-up to population levels: The grossing up is based on the latest completed monthly total number of enterprises per stratum in the General Business Register adjusted for population errors (such as non-active enterprises). The ratio of the total number of enterprise (N) within a given stratum to the corresponding number of enterprises (n) of the sample gives the grossing-up factor for the stratum.

Type of index: The turnover index is a composite-weighted value index.

Method of weighting and chaining: The composite index is weighted by the monthly values of the underlying strata. The base year weights are based on SBS information. No chain linking is used to extend time series.

G45, G46 and G47

Calender Adjustment:
- Country specific holidays are used;
- Moving holidays: Easter;
- Most series are Leap Year adjusted;
- RegArima model for adjustment.
Pre Adjustment: Automatic detection of additive outliers.
Seasonal Adjustment:
- X12Arima modeling;
- Mainly automatic modelling;
- Parameters are estimated every period. The model is evaluated annually;
- Revisions are restricted to the current and sometimes last year;
- Mostly multiplicative decomposition;
- Indirect methods used to calculate aggregates, so all series are consistent.

No further comments.