Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union

F1: Social indicators: Methodology and development; Relation with users

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Statistics included in the section Cultural expenditure comprise the data which are derived from two various sources: Household Budget Survey (HBS) and Harmonised Indices of Consumer Prices (HICP). Supplementary information in the section is derived from the Annual National Accounts (NAMA10) - Final consumption expenditure (P.3) of households (S.14) by consumption purpose (COICOP 3 digit) data table (nama10_p3_co3).

Therefore the coverage and periodicity of statistics in this section depends on these primary data sources.

In culture statistics, individuals and households' expenditure on cultural goods and services can be considered as a proxy of the participation in culture; data on private expenditure give the key to complete the analysis of data coming from other sources (e.g. dedicated surveys on cultural participation like EU-SILC ad hoc module on social and cultural participation).

This dimension allows a better understanding of the private financing of culture and in some way - access to culture as it enables among others the analysis of spending on cultural goods and services in the context of total household spending. 

Three types of data are currently available in Eurostat:

• households' expenditure on cultural goods and services (from Household Budget Surveys - HBS)

• harmonised indices of consumer prices (HICP) for main cultural goods and services (from Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices - HICP)
  
  
• final consumption expenditure of households on recreation and culture, audio-visual, photographic and information processing equipment, recreational and cultural services and newspapers, books and stationery(COICOP 2 and 3 digit, from annual national accounts  - NAMA10).

The HBS monitor the households’ expenditure on articles and services such as food, beverages, clothing, housing, water, electricity, health, transport, communication, education and travel.  In addition, it gathers the information on income, possession of consumer durable goods and cars; basic information on housing and many demographic and socio-economic characteristics of household members. In HBS, the data can be expressed in national currencies, EUR and in PPS. The data on cultural expenditure are presented in PPS.

The use of data on cultural expenditure was made possible thanks to the EU framework for culture statistics (the ESSnet-Culture final report, 2012) that identified cultural activities (e.g. reading books and newspapers, listening to the music, playing video games, singing, dancing etc.). Starting from the list of activities, the corresponding goods and services were then spotted in the Classification of individual consumption by purpose (COICOP) used in the Household Budget Survey (HBS).

For further information on methodology of HBS survey, please consult the HBS metadata.

As private expenditure is influenced, among others, by the prices level and structure, data on private expenditure on selected cultural goods and services can be completed by statistical information from the Harmonised Indices of Consumer Prices (HICP). HICPs give comparable measures of inflation, tracking over time the prices of consumer goods and services acquired by households. They use the COICOP categories for consumption.

For further information on methodology of HICP, please consult the HICP metadata.

In turn, supplementary data from annual national accounts provide information to analyse the structure of economies and their development over time. They contain a wide range of statistics describing an economy in various ways. The main GDP aggregates provide an overview of key economic developments. 

What is the difference between the GDP deflator and the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP)?

National accounts are commonly compiled both in current prices ("nominal GDP") and in constant prices. For the latter, the standard approach is now to move the price base ahead every year and derive a chain-linked GDP volume rather than GDP at constant prices. Once these two have been compiled, the elementary equation value = volume x price can be used to derive a measure for price changes. These are referred to as "implicit deflators" in national accounts, because they are implied mechanically once values and volumes have been compiled. The implicit GDP deflator for example is calculated straightforwardly as GDP at current prices divided by GDP chain-linked volumes and usually presented in index form. By nature of their construction, implicit deflators are aggregate price measures that can be used in a wide range of contexts where price changes shall be removed ("deflating") or shall be imposed on some fixed volume ("inflating"), in particular in a macro-economic context. In the national accounts for example, implicit deflators of GDP, domestic demand or private consumption are used for deflating nominal variables for which no proper volume is defined, such as gross national income or gross wages and salaries. The deflators' implicit nature means they are not based directly on observations of price movements. A vast amount of direct price observations at different levels of detail goes into the compilation of national accounts at constant (previous year's) prices, alongside direct quantity or volume observations. In the implicit deflators, these are compounded into a macroeconomic aggregate price measurement. The implicit GDP deflator is the broadest of these aggregates, covering all goods and services produced or imported in the economy. Price statistics on the other hand, notably in the form of producer and consumer price indices, are based on direct price observations, the best known index being the HICP (harmonised index of consumer prices) which measures directly the changes over time in the prices of consumer goods and services acquired, used or paid for by households. When "inflation" is referred to in public without further specification, it is most often understood to mean the HICP.

Why is National Account final consumption of households figures different from Household Budget Surveys (HBS)?

The Household Budget Surveys (HBS) in the Member States of the European Union are sample surveys of private households spending carried out regularly – albeit not on a yearly basis – under the responsibility of the National Statistical Offices. The HBS is only one of the sources of information used to compile household consumption expenditure in the national accounts. Business surveys, foreign trade statistics and VAT statistics are other important sources. The HBS is primarily intended as an instrument to learn about the micro-economic behaviour of households as consumers. It is not designed for the estimation of macroeconomic aggregates such as the total household consumption expenditure in an economy. The HBS concepts – such as the definition of household and consumption expenditure – are neither identical to the corresponding national accounts ones nor fully harmonised between countries or over time.

The classification used to produce statistics on households' expenditure and price index of cultural goods and services  is COICOP - Classification of individual consumption by purpose.

COICOP was developed by the United Nations. The UN COICOP is built up to four digit codes divided into services (S), non-durables (ND), semi-durables (SD) and durables (D).

For the purpose of EU HBS surveys, a special version of the classification – COICOP-HBS – was created with additional fifth digit to better disaggregate the information. The fifth digit has been implemented since the 2000 wave of surveys. It was further revised in 2003 for the 2005 and 2010 waves. For the 2015 wave the European classification of individual consumption according to purpose (ECOICOP) was recommended and applied by almost all the countries. ECOICOP relies on the structure and content of COICOP-HBS for the fifth digit but there are several differences. In ECOICOP, more disaggregation is available allowing the distinction of more specific expenditure categories. Additionally, the revision of numerous 5-digit codes was carried out to was resulted in the modification of content and coverage of part of codes.

The HICP components are currently classified according to the ECOICOP.

The final consumption expenditure of households by consumption purpose data table uses COICOP codes with at most three-digit granularity.

The mapping of cultural codes in HBS 2010 and HBS 2015 is available in the Annex I: Mapping of cultural codes in HBS 2010 and HBS 2015.

Cultural participation.

Household expenditure on cultural goods and services.

Statistics on cultural expenditure currently cover the items in the heading 09 'Recreation and culture' of the COICOP.

From HBS, the data for the following culture related categories are available acording to ECOICOP:

• Books;
• Newspapers and periodicals;
• Cinemas, theatres and concerts;
• Museums, libraries and zoological gardens;
• Musical instruments;
• Cameras and accessories for photographic and cinematographic equipment;
• Stationery and drawing materials;
• Services of photographers;
• Television and radio fees and subscriptions, hire of equipment and accessories for culture;
• Information processing equipment;
• Reception, recording and reproduction of sound;
• Reception, recording and reproduction of sound and vision;
• Recording media;
• Repair of audio-visual, photographic and information processing equipment;

For the detailed list of cultural codes in HBS 2010 and HBS 2010, please refer to Annex I: Mapping of cultural codes in HBS 2010 and HBS 2015.

From HICP:

The HICP components are currently collected according to ECOICOP and the following goods and services at 5th digit level of classification are available within the cultural scope:

• Audio-visual, photographic and information processing equipment;
• Equipment for the reception, recording and reproduction of sound and picture;
• Equipment for the reception, recording and reproduction of sound;
• Equipment for the reception, recording and reproduction of sound and vision;
• Portable sound and vision devices;
• Other equipment for the reception, recording and reproduction of sound and picture;
• Photographic and cinematographic equipment and optical instruments;
• Cameras;
• Accessories for photographic and cinematographic equipment;
• Information processing equipment;
• Pre-recorded recording media;
• Repair of audio-visual, photographic and information processing equipment;
• Musical instruments;
• Cultural services;
• Cinemas, theatres, concerts;
• Museums, libraries, zoological gardens;
• Television and radio licence fees, subscriptions;
• Hire of equipment and accessories for culture;
• Photographic services;
• Other cultural services;
• Books;
• Fiction books;
• Educational text books;
• Other non-fiction books;
• Binding services and E-book downloads;
• Newspapers and periodicals;
• Newspapers;
• Magazines and periodicals;
• Stationery and drawing materials.

From NAMA10 data for the following culture-related COICOP codes are available:

• Recreation and culture (partially cultural code)

• Audio-visual, photographic and information processing equipment (partially cultural code);
• Recreational and cultural services (partially cultural code);
• Newspapers, books and stationery (partially cultural code).

For data from HBS: households.

For data from HICP: each published index or rate of change refers to the 'final monetary consumption expenditure' of the whole household sector of the corresponding geographical entity. The observation unit is the price of goods and services available for purchase for the purpose of directly satisfying consumer needs.

For data from NAMA10: households.

For data from HBS:

Individual private households. Institutional households and persons living in collective households or in institutions are generally excluded.

For data from HICP:

The target statistical universe is the 'household final monetary consumption expenditure' (HFMCE) within the economic territories of the countries compiling the HICP. The household sector to which the definition refers includes all individuals or groups of individuals, irrespective of the type of area in which they live, their position in the income distribution and their nationality or residence status. These definitions follow the national account concepts in the European System of Accounts (ESA 2010).

The HICP comprises all products and services purchased in monetary transactions by households, both resident and non-resident (i.e 'domestic concept'), within the territory of a country.

For data from NAMA10:

The households sector (S.14) consists of individuals or groups of individuals as consumers and as entrepreneurs producing market goods and non-financial and financial services (market producers) provided that the production of goods and services is not by separate entities treated as quasi-corporations. It also includes individuals or groups of individuals as producers of goods and non-financial services for exclusively own final use.

Households as consumers may be defined as small groups of persons who share the same living accommodation, who pool their income and wealth and who consume certain types of goods and services collectively, mainly housing and food.

For data from HBS 2010:

EU Member States (excepting the Netherlands), the United Kingdom, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Turkey.

For data from HBS 2015:

EU Member States, the United Kingdom, Norway, Serbia, Turkey and Kosovo (partial data).

For data from HBS 2020:

EU Member States (excepting Ireland, Portugal, Romania, Finland, Sweden; Czechia, Italy - partial data; France, Cyprus, Malta - estimated data), Montenegro, Serbia.

For data from HICP:

EU Member States, the United Kingdom (until 2019), Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Turkey.

For data from NAMA10:

EU Member States, EFTA countries, the United Kingdom (until 2019), Candidate countries, Kosovo. 

For data from HBS: 2010, 2015, 2020.

For data from HICP: since 2002 for most countries.

For data from NAMA10: Time coverage (i.e., length of the historical series) is different for European series and for national series. Coverage is given for EU and euro area aggregates starting from 1995, with some exceptions in the case of the New Member States and derogations. The coverage for national data varies from country to country, partly due to derogations provided for in the transmission and back-projection programme, and can, in some cases, be substantially longer than for the European aggregates.

HBS: not applicable.

HICP: since January 2016 data, HICP data have been produced and published using the common index reference period (2015=100).

NAMA10: Not applicable.  The Commission Decision 98/715/EC requires previous year's prices and volume estimates to be presented in a chain-linked series.

For data from HBS: Purchasing power standard (PPS).

For data from HICP: Annual average index and annual rate of change for annual data and monthly indices for 3 base periods 1996, 2006, 2015.

For data from NAMA10: Chain-linked volumes for 3 base periods 2005, 2010, 2015 (million euro, million units of national currencies), price indices, current prices (million euro, million units of national currencies), previous year prices.

For data from HBS: reference year (2010, 2015, 2020).

For data from HICP: month/year (indices and rates). The reference year for indices is 2015 (2015=100).

For data from NAMA10: annual data. Chain-linked level series are obtained by successively applying the previous year's price growth rates to the current price figure of specific reference years (in the table the specific reference years are: 2005, 2010, and 2015). 

Please consult the HBS Metadata, HICP Metadata and NAMA10 Metadata.

Not applicable.

Please consult the HBS Metadata, HICP Metadata and NAMA10 Metadata.

Please consult the HBS Metadata, HICP Metadata and NAMA10 Metadata.

Statistics on household expenditure on cultural goods and services are not bound by a release calendar.

For HICP, the release schedule is publically available and published each year around mid-November for the full following year.

For NAMA10 see the National accounts dedicated section.

Not applicable.

In line with the Community legal framework and the European Statistics Code of Practice Eurostat disseminates European statistics on Eurostat's website respecting professional independence and in an objective, professional and transparent manner in which all users are treated equitably. The detailed arrangements are governed by the Eurostat protocol on impartial access to Eurostat data for users.

For data from HBS: every 5 years approximately.

For data from HICP: Monthly indices are disseminated around the middle of the month that follows the reference month. Yearly indices are disseminated in the first months of the year that follows the reference year.

For data from NAMA10: The transmission requirements for each dataset are defined in the European System of Accounts (ESA 2010) transmission programme.

None.

None.

http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/data/database

The Household Budget Survey is included in Commission Regulation (EC) No 831/2002 implementing Council Regulation (EC) No 322/97 on Community Statistics, concerning access to confidential data for scientific purposes. Universities and certified research centres can apply for access to HBS microdata for scientific purposes. An algorithm has been used in a Computer Application, to anonymise HBS data. 

For more information, please refer to access to microdata.

None.

Eurostat statistics on cultural participation and household expenditure on cultural goods and services have been designed according to the following document: The European Statistical System Network on Culture – ESSnet-Culture final report (2012). This report is the reference document for the design and development of culture statistics.

From the side of HBS surveys (2010), there are several supporting materials providing information on the framework of this data collection:

• Household budget surveys in the EU. Methodology and recommendations for harmonisation, 2003
• Quality report of the Household Budget Survey 2010
• Description of the data transmission for HBS, 2010

The methodological information relative to 2015 wave of HBS:

• Description of the data transmission for HBS, 2015.

 The methodological information relative to 2020 wave of HBS:

• Description of the data transmission for HBS, 2020.

The requirements, methodologies and compilation guidelines for the HICP are dealt with by the regulations and implementing acts available in the following sub-section of the HICP dedicated section:

• Legislation
• HICP methodology

For NAMA10:

European legislation and guidelines are explained in ESA 2010 manual.

Please consult the HBS Metadata, HICP Metadata and NAMA10 Metadata.

Please consult the HBS Metadata, HICP Metadata and NAMA10 Metadata.

Please consult the HBS Metadata, HICP Metadata and NAMA10 Metadata.

Data on expenditure on cultural goods and services allow measuring the share of the households' budget devoted to the purchasing of cultural items. At the European level, the several policy initiatives and programs aim at developing the European dimension of culture and raising awareness about its social and economic benefits.

Therefore, high quality data are important to better underpin the actions taken under the various initiatives targeting the cultural sector empowerment.

Generally users have been satisfied with overall quality of the service delivered by Eurostat, which encompasses data quality and the supporting service provided to them.

Please consult the HBS Metadata, HICP Metadata and NAMA10 Metadata.

Please consult the HBS Metadata, HICP Metadata and NAMA10 Metadata.

Please consult the HBS Metadata, HICP Metadata and NAMA10 Metadata.

Please consult the HBS Metadata, HICP Metadata and NAMA10 Metadata.

Please consult the HBS Metadata, HICP Metadata and NAMA10 Metadata.

Please consult the HBS Metadata, HICP Metadata and NAMA10 Metadata.

Please consult the HBS Metadata, HICP Metadata and NAMA10 Metadata.

Please consult the HBS Metadata, HICP Metadata and NAMA10 Metadata.

BREXIT: New EU-27_2020 aggregate

Due to the withdrawal of the United Kingdom (UK) from the European Union, a new aggregate, (EU-27_2020), has been calculated from February 2020 for the entire time series.

Please consult the HBS Metadata, HICP Metadata and NAMA10 Metadata.

Please consult the HBS Metadata, HICP Metadata and NAMA10 Metadata.

Please consult the HBS Metadata, HICP Metadata and NAMA10 Metadata.

The general Eurostat revision policy applies to this domain.

For details please consult the HBS Metadata, HICP Metadata and NAMA10 Metadata.

All reported errors (once validated) result in corrections of the disseminated data.

Reported errors are corrected in the disseminated data as soon as the correct data have been validated.

Data may be published even if they are missing for certain countries or flagged as provisional or of low reliability for certain countries.

European aggregates are updated for consistency with new country data.

New data are only used to update disseminated data if provided according to the provision schedule set by Eurostat, or in the case of reported errors.

HBS:

Data on households' expenditure on cultural goods and services are extracted from Household Budget Survey which is a sample survey (HBS, 2010, 2015 and 2020).

HICP:

All HICPs are based on the continuous measurement of a sample of prices of specified goods and services. The HICPs must be based on samples sufficient to yield reliable and comparable results, taking into account the national diversity of products and prices. Furthermore, as products or retail outlets disappear from the market, they need to be replaced with new ones. HICPs are required to be based on up-to-date samples, in particular by banning the practice whereby 'missing' prices are simply assumed to be equal to the last observed prices. The HICP will incorporate a new product when it achieves a sales volume of over one part per thousand of total consumers' expenditure covered by the HICP in a Member State.

NAMA10:

Countries use many sources to compile their national accounts, among them administrative data from government, population censuses, business surveys and household surveys. No single survey can hence be referred to. Sources vary from country to country and may cover a large set of economic, social, financial and environmental items, which need not always be strictly related to national accounts. In any case, there is no single survey source for national accounts. In particular, different sources are used for calculating the different approaches of GDP mentioned above under '3.4 Concepts and definitions'. If more than one of these approaches is used, their results are usually balanced, i.e. forced to be coherent, so that a single value for GDP is obtained. For further information about sources and collection methods in National Statistical Institutes (NSIs), please refer to National Statistical Institutes and National Central Banks (see Eurostat's web site, and after having chosen the language to be used, select menu: All Services - Links and Contacts).

HBS: every five years (1988, 1994, 1999, 2010, 2015, 2020).

HICP: Since January 2008, price collection takes place across at least one working week period at or near the middle of the calendar month to which the index pertains. When products are known to show sharp and irregular price changes within the same month, prices are collected over a period of more than one working week.

NAMA10: Member State's annual main aggregates are generally transmitted at t+2 and t+9 months.

Please consult the HBS Metadata, HICP Metadata and NAMA10 Metadata.

Primary data are checked and validated according to HBS, HICP and NAMA10 validation procedures (see the HBS Metadata, HICP Metadata and NAMA10 Metadata).

Apart from the validation made on the primary data, the data on household expenditures on cultural goods and services extracted and then compiled from HBS are also validated and checked in terms of comparability and consistency between countries and over time before being uploaded.

Disaggregated data by COICOP 5-digit (from HBS 2010, 2015 and 2020) covering item 09 "Recreation and culture" are subject to statistical processing (estimation of missing values and aggregation of cultural categories). The compiled data are then presented in two datasets published in the Eurostat database.

Data on HICP and NAMA10 are mirrored tables (bookmarks) of the source datasets in the HICP and Annual National Accounts domains. No data processing is applied for cultural statistics purposes.

HBS: Some adjustments (allocation of ECOICOP codes) are applied for France, Germany, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom and Norway for the results from the 2015 round of surveys to fit the ECOICOP structure as these countries followed COICOP-HBS in their 2015 wave.

For more details please refer to the Annex I: Mapping of cultural codes in HBS 2010 and HBS 2015.

HICP: not applicable.

NAMA10: please consult the NAMA10 Metadata.

No notes.