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National reference metadata

Belgium

Reference metadata describe statistical concepts and methodologies used for the collection and generation of data. They provide information on data quality and, since they are strongly content-oriented, assist users in interpreting the data. Reference metadata, unlike structural metadata, can be decoupled from the data.

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Production in industry (sts_ind_prod)

National Reference Metadata in Euro SDMX Metadata Structure (ESMS)

Compiling agency: Statbel (Statistics Belgium)

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 Production index (productie-index/indice de la production/produktionindex). This index is designed to be an indicator of the economic cycle.

8 July 2024

The objective of the production index is to measure changes in the volume of output at close and monthly intervals. It provides a measure of the volume trend in value added over a given reference period. The production index is a theorical measure that must be approximated by practical measures.

List and definition of variables in Belgium:

  • For Prodcom industrial sectors, the production index is based on:
    • Deflated value of sold production;
    • Total production.

The choice of the type of basic information depends on appropriateness to the activity and also on availability. Deflation is carried out at the Nace 4 level, using the evolution of industrial producer prices (for production measures based on value of sold production). Unit prices are calculated by Prodcom products for measures of production based on total production.

  • For industrial no prodcom sectors, the production index is based on worked hours;
  • For D351 sector: the net total electricity production in GWh (thermal, hydro, nuclear, geothermal, wind, other of which mainly solar).

Planned changes in information collected: none.

Reporting unit:

  • For industrial Prodcom sector : Local unit;
  • For industrial no Prodcom sector : Local unit.

Observation unit:

  • For industrial Prodcom sector : Local unit (with principal or secondary industrial activity);
  • For industrial no Prodcom sector : Local unit.
  • For industrial Prodcom sectors : ~3870 local units;
  • For industrial no Prodcom sectors : ~80 local units.

Indices are published at national and regional levels.

The calendar month is the reference period.

The sampling error is not relevant.

The non-sampling error is small but this error is more important for less detailed aggregates.

The first estimates are biased.

The principal source of errors is the non-response error.

Indices based on :

  • euros for industrial Prodcom sectors;
  • hours worked for industrial no Prodcom sectors;
  • Gwh for E351 sector.

 Absolute figures are published for Prodcom.

Estimates for non-response.

Non-response is treated using several imputation techniques, depending on specific cases. If the correlation between data and VAT data is good then VAT data are used.

Estimates for grossing-up to population levels: Not relevant.

Type of index Fixed base year Laspeyres index

Method of weighting and chaining :The weights used are the values added at the cost factors from the structural business survey.

  • If year <=2009 then weight=VA_2008;
  • If year=2010 then weight=VA_2009;
  • If year=2011 then weight=VA_2010;
  • If year=2012 then weight=VA_2011;
  • If year=2013 then weight=VA_2012;
  • If year=2014 then weight=VA_2013;
  • If year=2015 then weight=VA_2014;
  • If year=2016 then weight=VA_2015;
  • If year=2017 then weight=VA_2015;
  • If year=2018 then weight=VA_2015;
  • If year=2019 then weight=VA_2015;
  • If year=2020 then weight=VA_2015;
  • If year=2021 then weight=VA_2021;
  • If year=2022 then weight=VA_2021;
  • If year=2023 then weight=VA_2021.

In the future, we could update the weights to best fit the reference year (but the way of proceeding still needs to be worked out).

Sources : cut-of sample survey for industrial Prodcom and no Prodcom sectors.

  •  For sectors industrial no Prodcom : enterprises with 10 persons employed or more in sectors industrial no Prodcom (1011, slaughterhouse part of 1051, 1910, 1920, 2446); ~80 enterprises are surveyed.
  • For industrial prodcom enterprises :
    • All industrial enterprises in Nace Prodcom with 20 persons employed or with a turnover of EUR 5.000.000 million or more in the previous reference year;
    • All enterprises in with an industrial secondary activity with 20 persons employed or with a turnover of EUR 5.000.000 million or more in the previous reference year.

If enterprises meet these conditions, their local units are examinated. Local units in industrial sectors are surveyed.

The frame on which the source is based is DBRIS (Belgian business register).

The data are transmitted monthly to Eurostat and disseminated monthly to national users.

The production index is released within 1 month and 10 days after the reference period. Then, there is revised twice : two months and 10 days after the reference period and 3 months and 10 days after the reference period (in principle, the third release is final).

Questionnaires are sent to the reporting unit around the 15th of the reference month asking for a reply by the 15th of the following month.

The definitions are equally applied to the 3 regions of Belgium.

No problem of over time comparability.

The Prodcom data before 2008 (based on nace rev.1) were converted into prodcom data based on nace rev.2 with a conversion table and indices were recalculated.