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.
Supply, use and input-output tables (SUIOTs) are matrices that provide a detailed picture of how goods and services are supplied and used in an economy. By balancing data from various sources in a consistent framework, they allow compiling a single coherent estimate of gross domestic product (GDP) based on production, expenditure, and income.
SUIOTs comprise four main types of tables:
Supply table: This table depicts how products (in rows) enter the economy, either through domestic production by industries or imports (in columns). The supply table also includes data on trade and transport margins as well as taxes less subsidies (in columns) to convert total supply from basic prices to purchasers' prices.
Use table: This table depicts how products (in rows) are used by the economy, either for intermediate consumption by industries, or for final uses (both in columns). Final uses are disaggregated into 1) final consumption expenditure by households, general government, and non-profit institutions serving households, 2) gross capital formation and 3) exports. The use table contains additional rows to show, for each industry, how gross value added is generated, distinguishing compensation of employees, other taxes less subsidies on production, consumption of fixed capital, and net operating surplus and mixed income. The use table can refer to all transactions, domestic transactions or imported products.
Input-output table: This table captures the supply and use of products in a single matrix, depicting either products or industries in both rows and columns. Similar to use tables, input-output tables can refer to all transactions, domestic transactions or imported products.
Margin tables: These tables present separately 1) trade and transport margins and 2) taxes less subsidies, by products (in rows) and industries and final uses (in columns).
The supply-use system is built upon two fundamental equations:
total supply = production + imports = intermediate consumption + final consumption + gross capital formation + exports = total use (This equation is satisfied for any given product category.)
value added = production – intermediate consumption = compensation of employees + gross operating surplus and mixed income + other taxes less subsidies on production (This equation is satisfied for any given economic activity.)
SUIOTs for Estonia distinguish 64 product and industry categories. Products are classified according to the statistical classification of products by activity (CPA 2.1). Industries are classified according to the statistical classification of economic activities (NACE Revision 2).
The data are presented in million euro.
The tables are compiled in line with the European System of Accounts - ESA 2010 and the related transmission programme. SUIOTs are delivered 36 months after the end of the reference year. This means that, for example, data for the year 2022 were transmitted by 31 December 2025.
SUIOTs comprise annual and 5-yearly data transmissions. The annual mandatory data transmission includes the supply table at basic prices, including transformation into purchasers' prices (T1500) and the use table in purchasers' prices (T1600), both in current and previous year’s prices. The 5-yearly mandatory data transmissions concern years ending with ‘0’ or ‘5’ and include the following tables:
use table at basic prices (T1610)
use table for domestic output at basic prices (T1611)
use table for imports at basic prices (T1612)
table of trade and transport margins (T1620)
table of taxes less subsidies on products (T1630)
symmetric input-output table at basic prices (T1700/50)
symmetric input-output table for domestic output at basic prices (T1800/50)
symmetric input-output table for imports at basic prices (T1900/50).
The 5-yearly tables are to be transmitted in current prices. Estonia has transmitted product-by-product input-output tables for all mandatory years 2010, 2015, 2020. Additionally, industry-by-industry tables are available for 2020.
Estonia has transmitted on a voluntary basis 5-yearly tables T1610-12, T1620 and T1630 for 2010-2018 and 2021 at current prices. SUIOT tables are also published in the national database. All supply, use, and input-output tables produced by Statistics Estonia are transmitted to Eurostat.
Products are classified according to the statistical classification of products by activity (CPA 2.1). Industries are classified according to the statistical classification of economic activities (NACE Revision 2).
3.3. Coverage - sector
SUIOTs for Estonia cover the total economy, that is, all goods and services that are:
produced by industries (non-financial and financial corporations);
used as intermediates for production by non-financial and financial corporations, for final purposes by general government, households, and non-profit institutions serving households, for gross capital formation;
traded with the rest of the world through exports, imports, direct purchases abroad by residents and purchases on the domestic territory by non-residents.
Institutional units are economic entities characterised by decision-making autonomy to exercise their principal function. A resident unit is regarded as an institutional unit in the economic territory where it has its centre of predominant economic interest if it has decision-making autonomy and either keeps a complete set of accounts or is able to compile a complete set of accounts. Institutional units are used to capture income, expenditure, output and financial flows.
Local kind of activity units (local KAUs) comprise all parts of an institutional unit in its capacity as producer which are located in one single site or in closely related sites, and which contribute to an activity at the four-digit class level of NACE Rev. 2. Local KAUs are used to capture production processes.
An institutional unit can be composed of one or more local KAUs. However, a local KAU belongs to one and only one institutional unit.
Estonia uses information from institutional units (enterprises, public institutions etc.) to compile SUIOTs. Information on local KAUs has been used to improve the estimates for some economic activities.
3.6. Statistical population
The statistical population encompasses all resident statistical units (institutional units or local KAUs) that contribute to the production, supply and use of goods and services each year within Estonia's economy. A statistical unit is considered a resident of Estonia if it has its centre of predominant economic interest in the economic territory of Estonia, meaning it engages in economic activities in that territory for an extended period (one year or more).
National accounts aim to be comprehensive, covering all resident statistical units. This means that all resident statistical units are covered.
3.7. Reference area
The reference area corresponds to Estonia's economic territory. This area covers all production, consumption and trade activities occurring each year within its boundaries.
3.8. Coverage - Time
SUIOTs provide annual data on economic activities in a given calendar year. Tables in current prices tend to be available from 2010 to year N-3 (with N being the current year). The tables in previous year’s prices tend to be available from 2015 to year N-3. Five-yearly tables are published for years ending with ‘0’ and ‘5’. Estonia has voluntarily transmitted tables T1610-12, T1620 on trade and transport margins and table T1630 on taxes less subsidies for all years 2010-2018, 2020 and 2021 in current prices. Input-output tables are available in product-by-product and industry-by-industry format up to 2020. Estonia has also transmitted several years detailed table on taxes less subsidies, excluding value added tax (T1631) and the table on value added tax (T1632).
3.9. Base period
The concept of 'base period' is not applied to supply, use and input-output tables.
Data are presented in million euro for both current and previous year's prices.
The reference period is the calendar year.
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
Four regulations have direct relevance for the compilation and transmission of SUIOTs. Regulation (EU) No 549/2013 as amended by Regulation (EU) No 2023/734 defines the structure and concepts of the European System of Accounts – ESA 2010 and the transmission programme for the related data and metadata.
Implementing Regulation (EU) No 724/2014 defines the interchange standard for the transmission of national accounts data, including supply, use and input-output tables.
Implementing Regulation (EU) No 2016/2304 describes the modalities of quality reporting, including provisions for the assessment of timeliness, completeness, and consistency of the transmitted data.
Two auxiliary regulations establish the statistical classification of products and activities that are used by supply, use, and input-output tables. Regulation (EU) No 1209/2014 establishes the statistical classification of products by activity (CPA 2.1). Regulation (EC) No 1893/2006 as amended by Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/137 establishes the statistical classification of economic activities (NACE Rev. 2.1).
The production of SUIOTs is not specifically mandated by law in Estonia.
6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing
There is no institutional mandate for SUIOT data sharing.
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
The confidentiality of data collected for the purpose of producing official statistics is guided by the requirements provided for in § 32, § 34, § 35, § 38 of The Official Statistical Act and by Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 on European statistics.
Data are flagged as confidential if:
there are 3 or less companies within a single economic activity.
a single company makes up 80% or more of a single economic activity.
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
The dissemination of confidential data collected for the production of official statistics is based on the requirements laid down in §§ 34 and 35 of the Official Statistics Act.
The treatment of confidential data is regulated by the Procedure for Protection of Data Collected and Processed by Statistics Estonia (in Estonian). See more details on the website of Statistics Estonia: Data protection (Privacy policy)
The Estonian SUIOTs are in general freely available. However, due to the small size of the Estonian economy some data can be flagged as confidential at 2-digit NACE.
8.1. Release calendar
Full dissemination is published in the release calendar of Statistics Estonia. Every year on October 1st the release calendar for the next calendar year is published on the website.
8.2. Release calendar access
The release calendar is available on the homepage of Statistics Estonia.
8.3. Release policy - user access
All users have equal access to official Estonian statistics. Dissemination dates are announced in advance and all users gain access to data at the same time. Official statistics are published in the statistical database at 8:00 a.m. on the date announced in the release calendar. News releases, when applicable, are released at the same time on the website of Statistics Estonia.
SUIOT tables published by Statistics Estonia in the public database:
The methodology for compiling supply, use and input-output tables is not published by Statistics Estonia.
10.7. Quality management - documentation
Not available.
11.1. Quality assurance
Quality is assured by strict application of ESA 2010 concepts and by the validation of transmitted data.
11.2. Quality management - assessment
Eurostat evaluates the quality of transmitted supply, use and input-output tables through a standardised validation process (see section 18.4). This ensures internal and cross-table consistency, completeness, and data plausibility. Any inconsistencies within and across tables of the same transmission prevent publication of tables until they are corrected and re-transmitted by the respective country. Issues related to data gaps and plausibility are communicated with each country. If confirmed, the tables are published. The quality assessment covers both mandatory and voluntary transmissions.
As part of the annual quality reporting, Eurostat reviews the completeness, timeliness, and the alignment of tables with national accounts main aggregates, in line with Regulation (EU) No 2016/2304. Prefilled quality reports are sent to countries by 15 February of each year.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
Supply, use and input-output tables are indispensable tools for researchers, policymakers and statisticians who seek to understand the economic structure of individual countries, the EU, and the euro area. User needs concern a range of applications, among others:
GDP compilation: Allowing to calculate GDP through production, income and expenditure approaches, thereby ensuring data consistency within the national accounts and between national accounts and trade statistics.
Extended SUIOTs: Providing the basis for extended supply, use and input-output tables and the development of thematic accounts to address specific economic activities or domains such as tourism, the digital economy, or the space economy.
Inter-country SUIOTs: Providing the building blocks for regional and global inter-country supply, use and input-output tables such as FIGARO (Eurostat) or ICIO (OECD).
Value chain indicators: Supporting the development of value chain indicators to capture economic linkages across sectors.
Economic analyses: Providing the basis for economic modelling and assessment of the impacts of policy intervention, technological innovation, environmental factors, or any other disruptive events on the economy of individual countries, the EU, and the euro area.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
Users of supply, use and input-output tables provide feedback directly to Statistics Estonia.
All information for feedback is available on the website of Statistics Estonia under Contacts | Statistikaamet.
12.3. Completeness
SUIOT data provide detailed breakdowns on production, consumption, and trade.
Estonia has transmitted a complete set of mandatory SUIOTs for the period of 2010 to year N-3 (where N is the current year). The tables are generally free of data gaps; if gaps are identified, these will be completed in subsequent data transmissions.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
The accuracy of the national accounts depends on the quality of the input data derived from statistical activities. The quality and accuracy of these input data are regularly verified. New data are added to data compilation on a regular basis.
Estonia publishes an overview of annual revisions on its website.
13.2. Sampling error
Not applicable.
13.3. Non-sampling error
Not applicable.
14.1. Timeliness
The ESA 2010 transmission programme requires SUIOTs data to be transmitted to Eurostat within 36 months after the end of the reference year.
14.2. Punctuality
Data are published nationally and transmitted to Eurostat by December 31st.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
Geographical comparability of supply, use and input-output tables is ensured by the application of common definitions and concepts according to the European System of Accounts - ESA 2010.
15.2. Comparability - over time
Comparability of supply, use and input-output tables over time is generally limited as there is no obligation to revise tables after benchmark revisions or updates of main aggregates. The Eurostat Practical Guidelines for Revising ESA 2010 Data – 19 edition recommend updating SUIOTs for as many years as possible after such revisions. SUIOTs for the most recent years are generally aligned with the revised main aggregates.
Statistics Estonia does not generally revise SUIOT tables once they have been finalized and published. Occasionally, some previous years can be realigned with main aggregates during benchmark revisions.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
Cross-domain consistency of SUIOTs is verified against main aggregates. The most recently published SUIOTs are incorporated into main aggregates during the following revision. This guarantees consistency with main aggregates, non-financial sector accounts and regional accounts.
In general, SUIOT tables remain consistent with main aggregates until the next benchmark revision after the release of the data set. Occasionally, the SUIOTs for the most recent years can be revised during the benchmark revision to keep consistency with main aggregates.
15.4. Coherence - internal
Eurostat ensures that supply, use, and input-output tables are internally coherent through the standardised data validation process.
For SUIOTs, there is no agreed scheme for data revisions. Preliminary supply and use tables can be transmitted to Eurostat. These can later be revised and complemented with input-output tables. Re-transmission is allowed at any time to align data with main aggregates.
Following the Eurostat Practical Guidelines for Revising ESA 2010 Data – 2019 edition, SUIOTs can be revised for individual years, several years, or the entire time series. After national accounts benchmark revisions, it is recommended to update SUIOTs for as many years as possible. However, tables should be consistent with main aggregates for at least the most recent years, e.g., N-4 and N-3.
Estonia generally does not revise SUIOT tables, unless there are specific requirements during benchmark revisions.
17.2. Data revision - practice
The revision practice effectively corresponds to the revision practice of the domain listed under sub‑concept 17.1 (data revision – policy).
Statistics Estonia publishes an overview of revisions on its website under the respective section.
18.1. Source data
The compilation of SUIOTs requires a variety of source data from different statistical domains, including administrative data from government statistics, censuses, trade statistics, and various surveys of businesses and households.
National Accounts use a variety of data sources, combining surveys from various statistical domains and administrative data.
ADMINISTRATIVE DATA
Data on the declaration of income and social tax, unemployment insurance premiums and contributions to mandatory funded pension (form TSD - Tulu- ja sotsiaalmaksu, kohustusliku kogumispensioni ja töötuskindlustusmakse deklaratsioon, i.e. Declaration of income and social tax, unemployment insurance premiums and contributions to mandatory funded pension) and also the Business Income of a Resident Natural Person (Form E) are received from the Estonian Tax and Customs Board. Data on governmental accounts are received from the Ministry of Finance. Balance of Payments from Central Bank. Various other data sources are used from governmental agencies.
DATA FROM OTHER STATISTICAL ACTIVITIES
Data from statistical activities 20003 “Financial statistics of agricultural, forestry and fishing enterprises (annual)”, 20300 “Financial statistics of enterprises (annual)”, 21300 “Financial statistics of financial service activities and activities auxiliary to financial services (annual)”, 21303 “Government finance” are used. Various other statistical domains within Statistics Estonia provide data for National Accounts.
Data quality is mostly dependent on more notable data sources - tax authority, customs, annual reports of enterprises. Data is processed and checked for irregularities multiple times during compilation in National Accounts and has good coverage of the Estonian economy.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Data used for Annual National Accounts are collected at various intervals. Depending on the data source, it can be collected monthly, quarterly or annually. Some sources that provide information for detailed structures are not collected every year. Longest survey gaps for detailed structures are five years.
18.3. Data collection
Most of administrative data are received via digital infrastructure. Some data is transmitted to National Accounts by the compilers by email.
Data from other statistical domains within Statistics Estonia is accessed via internal databases.
18.4. Data validation
Source data is primarily validated by data collectors. As National Accounts themselves do not collect any data directly, the preliminary data validation is already done by the time National Accounts receives access to it. National Accounts validates data additionally, in order to guarantee the suitability for its purposes. Additional checks are done during the estimation process and if needed data providers are contacted to clarify issues.
18.5. Data compilation
National Accounts are compiled by Statistics Estonia according to the ESA 2010 principles using methodologies.
The working format of the SUT includes 160 activities and 261 product groups. The compilation process of the supply-and-use tables has four main steps:
preparation of the initial estimates for the supply at basic prices and for the use at purchasers’ prices;
calculation of the initial valuation matrices to obtain all elements of the use table according to basic price valuation;
compilation of the initial use tables for domestic output and imports;
integration of the initial estimates and balancing of the supply and use tables.
The process of balancing of supply-and-use tables is carried out in two steps:
manual balancing;
final balancing.
The balancing process starts with the supply and use tables expressed at basic prices. The aim of manual balancing is to eliminate the imbalances between the supply and use at the product level. In the final step, the differences between the supply and use side trade margins and the discrepancy between the theoretical and actually paid VAT are removed. The balancing is an iterative process of improvements of the initial supply and use estimates, where less reliable estimates are improved step by step. Both the supply-and-use side aggregates are adjusted, but the demand side is mostly affected due to balancing (e.g. exports and imports, intermediate consumption, final use). The total amounts of output, intermediate consumption, value added and final consumption of general government are not allowed to change at all. As supply and use tables are afterwards integrated into the rest of National Accounts, the balancing process can be seen as the last quality check on other statistical domains. Balancing can reveal inconsistencies in source data and therefore bring forth adjustments in the rest of the National Accounts statistics.
For compiling the SUIOT, Statistics Estonia has implemented NA Builder software. The software is based on Eurostat's Manual of Supply, Use and Input-Output Tables.
For generating the input-output tables, Statistics Estonia applies the following principles:
Fixed product-sales structures according to Model D are assumed to establish industry-by-industry input-output tables. Each product has its own specific sales structure, regardless of the industry producing it. In other words, if a product is produced by several industries, each industry’s output of that specific product is assumed to be sold to users in the same proportions. Secondary production remains attributed to the industry that produced it but product sales to users are allocated according to the primary sales structure of the product concerned.
The Almon method is used to establish product-by-product input-output tables. The method follows in principle the product-technology assumption (Model A) according to which each product is produced in its own specific way, regardless of the industry producing it. However, the assumption is relaxed when it causes negative values, ensuring that resulting transactions remain positive and balanced.
18.6. Adjustment
SUIOTs are balanced to include no statistical discrepancy and provide a detailed extensive look at the structure of the Estonian economy.
No comment.
Supply, use and input-output tables (SUIOTs) are matrices that provide a detailed picture of how goods and services are supplied and used in an economy. By balancing data from various sources in a consistent framework, they allow compiling a single coherent estimate of gross domestic product (GDP) based on production, expenditure, and income.
SUIOTs comprise four main types of tables:
Supply table: This table depicts how products (in rows) enter the economy, either through domestic production by industries or imports (in columns). The supply table also includes data on trade and transport margins as well as taxes less subsidies (in columns) to convert total supply from basic prices to purchasers' prices.
Use table: This table depicts how products (in rows) are used by the economy, either for intermediate consumption by industries, or for final uses (both in columns). Final uses are disaggregated into 1) final consumption expenditure by households, general government, and non-profit institutions serving households, 2) gross capital formation and 3) exports. The use table contains additional rows to show, for each industry, how gross value added is generated, distinguishing compensation of employees, other taxes less subsidies on production, consumption of fixed capital, and net operating surplus and mixed income. The use table can refer to all transactions, domestic transactions or imported products.
Input-output table: This table captures the supply and use of products in a single matrix, depicting either products or industries in both rows and columns. Similar to use tables, input-output tables can refer to all transactions, domestic transactions or imported products.
Margin tables: These tables present separately 1) trade and transport margins and 2) taxes less subsidies, by products (in rows) and industries and final uses (in columns).
The supply-use system is built upon two fundamental equations:
total supply = production + imports = intermediate consumption + final consumption + gross capital formation + exports = total use (This equation is satisfied for any given product category.)
value added = production – intermediate consumption = compensation of employees + gross operating surplus and mixed income + other taxes less subsidies on production (This equation is satisfied for any given economic activity.)
SUIOTs for Estonia distinguish 64 product and industry categories. Products are classified according to the statistical classification of products by activity (CPA 2.1). Industries are classified according to the statistical classification of economic activities (NACE Revision 2).
The data are presented in million euro.
The tables are compiled in line with the European System of Accounts - ESA 2010 and the related transmission programme. SUIOTs are delivered 36 months after the end of the reference year. This means that, for example, data for the year 2022 were transmitted by 31 December 2025.
SUIOTs comprise annual and 5-yearly data transmissions. The annual mandatory data transmission includes the supply table at basic prices, including transformation into purchasers' prices (T1500) and the use table in purchasers' prices (T1600), both in current and previous year’s prices. The 5-yearly mandatory data transmissions concern years ending with ‘0’ or ‘5’ and include the following tables:
use table at basic prices (T1610)
use table for domestic output at basic prices (T1611)
use table for imports at basic prices (T1612)
table of trade and transport margins (T1620)
table of taxes less subsidies on products (T1630)
symmetric input-output table at basic prices (T1700/50)
symmetric input-output table for domestic output at basic prices (T1800/50)
symmetric input-output table for imports at basic prices (T1900/50).
The 5-yearly tables are to be transmitted in current prices. Estonia has transmitted product-by-product input-output tables for all mandatory years 2010, 2015, 2020. Additionally, industry-by-industry tables are available for 2020.
Estonia has transmitted on a voluntary basis 5-yearly tables T1610-12, T1620 and T1630 for 2010-2018 and 2021 at current prices. SUIOT tables are also published in the national database. All supply, use, and input-output tables produced by Statistics Estonia are transmitted to Eurostat.
Institutional units are economic entities characterised by decision-making autonomy to exercise their principal function. A resident unit is regarded as an institutional unit in the economic territory where it has its centre of predominant economic interest if it has decision-making autonomy and either keeps a complete set of accounts or is able to compile a complete set of accounts. Institutional units are used to capture income, expenditure, output and financial flows.
Local kind of activity units (local KAUs) comprise all parts of an institutional unit in its capacity as producer which are located in one single site or in closely related sites, and which contribute to an activity at the four-digit class level of NACE Rev. 2. Local KAUs are used to capture production processes.
An institutional unit can be composed of one or more local KAUs. However, a local KAU belongs to one and only one institutional unit.
Estonia uses information from institutional units (enterprises, public institutions etc.) to compile SUIOTs. Information on local KAUs has been used to improve the estimates for some economic activities.
The statistical population encompasses all resident statistical units (institutional units or local KAUs) that contribute to the production, supply and use of goods and services each year within Estonia's economy. A statistical unit is considered a resident of Estonia if it has its centre of predominant economic interest in the economic territory of Estonia, meaning it engages in economic activities in that territory for an extended period (one year or more).
National accounts aim to be comprehensive, covering all resident statistical units. This means that all resident statistical units are covered.
The reference area corresponds to Estonia's economic territory. This area covers all production, consumption and trade activities occurring each year within its boundaries.
The reference period is the calendar year.
The accuracy of the national accounts depends on the quality of the input data derived from statistical activities. The quality and accuracy of these input data are regularly verified. New data are added to data compilation on a regular basis.
Estonia publishes an overview of annual revisions on its website.
Data are presented in million euro for both current and previous year's prices.
National Accounts are compiled by Statistics Estonia according to the ESA 2010 principles using methodologies.
The working format of the SUT includes 160 activities and 261 product groups. The compilation process of the supply-and-use tables has four main steps:
preparation of the initial estimates for the supply at basic prices and for the use at purchasers’ prices;
calculation of the initial valuation matrices to obtain all elements of the use table according to basic price valuation;
compilation of the initial use tables for domestic output and imports;
integration of the initial estimates and balancing of the supply and use tables.
The process of balancing of supply-and-use tables is carried out in two steps:
manual balancing;
final balancing.
The balancing process starts with the supply and use tables expressed at basic prices. The aim of manual balancing is to eliminate the imbalances between the supply and use at the product level. In the final step, the differences between the supply and use side trade margins and the discrepancy between the theoretical and actually paid VAT are removed. The balancing is an iterative process of improvements of the initial supply and use estimates, where less reliable estimates are improved step by step. Both the supply-and-use side aggregates are adjusted, but the demand side is mostly affected due to balancing (e.g. exports and imports, intermediate consumption, final use). The total amounts of output, intermediate consumption, value added and final consumption of general government are not allowed to change at all. As supply and use tables are afterwards integrated into the rest of National Accounts, the balancing process can be seen as the last quality check on other statistical domains. Balancing can reveal inconsistencies in source data and therefore bring forth adjustments in the rest of the National Accounts statistics.
For compiling the SUIOT, Statistics Estonia has implemented NA Builder software. The software is based on Eurostat's Manual of Supply, Use and Input-Output Tables.
For generating the input-output tables, Statistics Estonia applies the following principles:
Fixed product-sales structures according to Model D are assumed to establish industry-by-industry input-output tables. Each product has its own specific sales structure, regardless of the industry producing it. In other words, if a product is produced by several industries, each industry’s output of that specific product is assumed to be sold to users in the same proportions. Secondary production remains attributed to the industry that produced it but product sales to users are allocated according to the primary sales structure of the product concerned.
The Almon method is used to establish product-by-product input-output tables. The method follows in principle the product-technology assumption (Model A) according to which each product is produced in its own specific way, regardless of the industry producing it. However, the assumption is relaxed when it causes negative values, ensuring that resulting transactions remain positive and balanced.
The compilation of SUIOTs requires a variety of source data from different statistical domains, including administrative data from government statistics, censuses, trade statistics, and various surveys of businesses and households.
National Accounts use a variety of data sources, combining surveys from various statistical domains and administrative data.
ADMINISTRATIVE DATA
Data on the declaration of income and social tax, unemployment insurance premiums and contributions to mandatory funded pension (form TSD - Tulu- ja sotsiaalmaksu, kohustusliku kogumispensioni ja töötuskindlustusmakse deklaratsioon, i.e. Declaration of income and social tax, unemployment insurance premiums and contributions to mandatory funded pension) and also the Business Income of a Resident Natural Person (Form E) are received from the Estonian Tax and Customs Board. Data on governmental accounts are received from the Ministry of Finance. Balance of Payments from Central Bank. Various other data sources are used from governmental agencies.
DATA FROM OTHER STATISTICAL ACTIVITIES
Data from statistical activities 20003 “Financial statistics of agricultural, forestry and fishing enterprises (annual)”, 20300 “Financial statistics of enterprises (annual)”, 21300 “Financial statistics of financial service activities and activities auxiliary to financial services (annual)”, 21303 “Government finance” are used. Various other statistical domains within Statistics Estonia provide data for National Accounts.
Data quality is mostly dependent on more notable data sources - tax authority, customs, annual reports of enterprises. Data is processed and checked for irregularities multiple times during compilation in National Accounts and has good coverage of the Estonian economy.
The supply, use and input-output tables for Estonia are published once a year, on the last working day of the year.
The ESA 2010 transmission programme requires SUIOTs data to be transmitted to Eurostat within 36 months after the end of the reference year.
Geographical comparability of supply, use and input-output tables is ensured by the application of common definitions and concepts according to the European System of Accounts - ESA 2010.
Comparability of supply, use and input-output tables over time is generally limited as there is no obligation to revise tables after benchmark revisions or updates of main aggregates. The Eurostat Practical Guidelines for Revising ESA 2010 Data – 19 edition recommend updating SUIOTs for as many years as possible after such revisions. SUIOTs for the most recent years are generally aligned with the revised main aggregates.
Statistics Estonia does not generally revise SUIOT tables once they have been finalized and published. Occasionally, some previous years can be realigned with main aggregates during benchmark revisions.
