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.
The annual data are established by the National account division of the Swiss federal statistical office:
The quarterly data are established by the Short term economic analyses division of the State secretariat for economic affairs (SECO):
1.3. Contact name
Confidential because of GDPR
1.4. Contact person function
Confidential because of GDPR
1.5. Contact mail address
Annual data
Swiss Federal Statistical Office National accouts division Espace de l'Europe 10 CH-2010 Neuchâtel Switzerland
Quarterly data
State Secretariat for Economic Affairs SECO Economic Policy Directorate Short Term Economic Analyses Holzikofenweg 36 CH-3003 Bern
1.6. Contact email address
Confidential because of GDPR
1.7. Contact phone number
Confidential because of GDPR
1.8. Contact fax number
Confidential because of GDPR
2.1. Metadata last certified
13 June 2018
2.2. Metadata last posted
13 June 2018
2.3. Metadata last update
13 June 2018
3.1. Data description
National accounts data concern all data produced and disseminated for an economy according to the definitions and guidelines of the European System of Accounts (ESA 2010).
National accounts provide data for the total economy, but may also include breakdowns of the total economy (into sectors, industries, products, regions, etc.). National accounts provide data for several domains: annual and quarterly national accounts (main aggregates), sector accounts, financial accounts, supply and use and input-output tables, regional accounts and government finance statistics.
One of the main aggregates of national accounts is the change rate of the price-adjusted gross domestic product (GDP), which indicates the economic development of a country of region and is also referred to as economic growth rate.
In Eurobase, countries' data are presented following the usual data structure.
In Switzerland, at national level, data are commonly available for :
- annual and quarterly national accounts: 'main aggregates';
- annual sector accounts;
- annual financial accounts and balance sheets;
- annual and quarterly government finance statistics data: 'main aggregates';
- industry breakdowns of main national accounts variables;
- detailed data on taxes, social contributions and government expenditure by function;
- pension entitlements in social insurance;
3.2. Classification system
The ESA 2010 provides a methodology on common standards, definitions, internationally harmonised classifications and accounting rules that are used for compiling national accounts on comparable bases.
The ESA 2010 defines classifications to be used for: institutional sectors, transactions in products, transactions in non-financial non-produced assets, distributive transactions, transactions in financial assets and liabilities, other changes in assets, balancing and net worth items, balance sheet entries, non-financial assets, financial assets and liabilities.
In addition, for several breakdowns ESA 2010 makes use of other classifications: NACE Rev. 2 for economic activities, CPA 2014 for products by economic activities, COFOG for the functions of government, COICOP for individual consumption by purpose, COPNI for classification of the purposes of non-profit institutions serving households, NUTS 2013 for regional breakdowns.
A full overview of classifications is available in:
- COPNI for classification of the purposes of non-profit institutions serving households.
3.3. Coverage - sector
National accounts describe the total economy of a country. All units that have their centre of predominant economic interest in the economic territory of that country are covered.
In addition, several breakdowns of the total are described. Two of the most important breakdowns are the breakdown by institutional sector and the breakdown by NACE Rev. 2 activity. Exhaustiveness is required for each of the breakdown items.
Concerning the institutional sector breakdown, ESA 2010 distinguishes five mutually exclusive domestic institutional sectors: (a) non-financial corporations; (b) financial corporations; (c) general government; (d) households; (e) non-profit institutions serving households. The five sectors together make up the total domestic economy. Each sector is also divided into subsectors.
Regarding the activity breakdown, ESA 2010 applies NACE Rev.2. Activities can be broken down into several levels of detail, for example into 3, 10, 21, 38, 64 or 88 activities. At the 'highest' level a breakdown into 3 categories is defined: (a) agriculture, forestry and fishing; (b) mining and quarrying, manufacturing, electricity gas steam and air conditioning supply, water supply, sewerage, waste management and remediation activities, construction; (c) services.
The value added of the activities is calculated at the NACE Rev.2 level but it is released at a specific 50 activities breakdown on our website at annual frequency. In the quarterly data value added is released at a 16 activities breakdown.
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
All statistical concepts and definitions to be used in national accounts are described in Annex A of the ESA 2010 Regulation (link to blue book on ESA2010 methodology). The two main sets of tables concern: (a) the institutional sector accounts; (b) the input-output framework, and the accounts by industry.
The sector accounts provide, by institutional sector, a systematic description of the different stages of the economic process: production, generation of income, distribution of income, redistribution of income, use of income and financial and nonfinancial accumulation. The sector accounts also include balance sheets to describe the stocks of assets, liabilities and net worth at the beginning and the end of the accounting period. The variables/concepts described in the sector accounts include transactions in products, transactions in non-produced non-financial assets, distributive transactions, transactions in financial assets and liabilities, other changes in assets, non-financial and financial assets and liabilities.
The input-output framework, through the supply and use tables, sets out in more detail the production process (cost structure, income generated and employment) and the flows of goods and services (output, imports, exports, final consumption, intermediate consumption and capital formation by product group). These variables are broken down by industry (NACE Rev. 2) and product (CPA 2014).
ESA 2010 also encompasses concepts of population and employment. Such concepts are relevant for the sector accounts, the accounts by industry and the supply and use framework.
Regional accounts provide regional breakdowns for major aggregates such as gross value added by industry, gross fixed capital formation and household income. Regional breakdowns are based on the NUTS classification. National accounts concepts are also used for regional accounts.
In addition Annex A of the ESA 2010 Regulation addresses and defines numerous other concepts and definitions, such as the definition of: statistical units and their groupings, flows and stocks, accounting rules (valuation, time of recording, consolidation and netting). The main features and principles for the compilation of national accounts can be found in Chapter 1.
The following data are not available:
- capital formation by product group;
- balance sheets (sector accounts);
- regional breakdowns for gross fixed capital formation and household income.
3.5. Statistical unit
Following the ESA 2010 guidelines, in national accounts two types of units and two corresponding ways of subdividing the economy are used: (a) institutional unit; (b) local kind-of-activity unit (local KAU). The first type is used for describing income, expenditure and financial flows as well as balance sheets. The second type of units is used for the description of production processes, for input-output analysis and for regional analysis.
An institutional unit is an economic entity characterised by decision-making autonomy in the exercise of its principal function. A resident unit is regarded as constituting 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.
A local KAU groups all the parts of an institutional unit in its capacity as producer which are located in a single site or in closely located sites, and which contribute to the performance of an activity at the class level (four digits) of the NACE Rev. 2.
An institutional unit comprises one or more local KAUs; a local KAU belongs to one and only one institutional unit.
The Swiss national accounts use two types of units: the local unit and the legal unit. The national accounts are mainly established on the legal unit concept.
3.6. Statistical population
The national accounts population of a country consists of all resident statistical units (institutional units or local KAUs, see section 3.5). A unit is a resident unit of a country when it has a centre of predominant economic interest on the economic territory of that country, that is, when it engages for an extended period (one year or more) in economic activities on this territory.
National accounts are exhaustive. This means that all resident statistical units are covered.
The very small entreprises of non-financial corporations are not all covered and computed.
3.7. Reference area
Switzerland is allowed to compile data based on institutional units when the provisions of the regulation refer to the industry.
Agreement between the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on cooperation in the field of statistics (Adopted on 2 December 2019; Entry into force on 2 December 2019)
3.8. Coverage - Time
National accounts data are usually compiled for years and quarters.
In general, the ESA 2010 transmission programme requires data starting in 1995 (years) and 1995Q1 (quarters) but some series start later. If backwards data exist, they may have been compiled according to earlier versions of ESA and can present conceptual breaks with those compiled under ESA2010.
Swiss time series in public database starts in 1990 for the production account (17 industries). The national accounts starts in 1995.
We also publish a long time series of the GDP, which starts in 1948.
Quarterly data: The series for GDP and the main demand components (expenditure approach) start in 1980, the breakdown of value added by sector and the aggregates of the income approach start in 1990.
3.9. Base period
The concept of 'base period' is not applied in national accounts. Instead, for some national accounts variables the concepts of previous year prices and chain-linked volumes are applied, as stipulated in Commission Decision 98/715/EC. Expressing variables at the prices of the previous year allows the calculation of volume indices between the current time period and the previous year. After a reference period is chosen as a benchmark, volume indices can be chain-linked and then applied to variables at current prices of the benchmark year. This generates volume estimates for any period of observation.
Switzerland currently uses 2010 as reference year for the compilation of chain-linked volumes. The method to compile quarterly chain-linked volumes is the annual overlap method.
With the exception of some variables concerning population and labour that are usually expressed in number of persons, hours or jobs, the ESA 2010 system shows all flows and stocks in monetary terms: in euros or other national currency. Flows and stocks shall be measured according to their exchange value, i.e. the value at which flows and stocks are in fact, or could be, exchanged for cash. Market prices are, thus, the ESA's reference for valuation.
In addition to measurement in current (market) prices, some national accounts variables are also expressed in previous year's prices and chain-linked volumes, see section 3.9. Furthermore, it is possible to derive growth rates and indices, and various other measures '(e.g. percentages, per capita data, data expressed in purchasing power standards)' can be applied as well.
The usual reference period to be used for presenting national accounts data is the calendar year for annual data and the quarter for quarterly data.
Two basic kinds of information are recorded: flows and stocks. Flows refer to actions and effects of events that take place within a given period of time (year or quarter), while stocks refer to positions at a point of time (usually the beginning or end of a year or quarter).
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
National accounts are compiled in accordance with the European System of Accounts (ESA 2010) which was published in the Official Journal as Annex A of Regulation (EU) No 549/2013. The ESA 2010 transmission programme is covered in Annex B
The ESA 2010 has the form of a Regulation and it provides for:
a methodology (Annex A) on common standards, definitions, classifications and accounting rules that shall be used for compiling accounts and tables on comparable bases (link to blue book on ESA 2010 methodology);
a programme of data transmission (Annex B) setting out the time limits by which Member States shall transmit to Eurostat the accounts and tables (link to ESA 2010 transmission programme).
Temporary derogations to the data transmission requirements have been granted to Member States, up to 2020, by the Commission Implementing Decision 2014/403/EU of 26 June 2014 thus allowing national data to deviate temporarily from the ESA 2010 transmission requirements.
Some other legal acts with relevance for national accounts concern:
- Commission Decision 98/715 of 30 November 1998 and Commission Decision 2002/990 of 17 December 2002 on measurement of price and volumes in national accounts.
- Legal act on the excessive deficit procedure
Several separate acts, often regarding classifications such as: NACE Rev.2, CPA 2014, COFOG, COICOP, NUTS 2013.
On the Eurostat website, sections 'National accounts' and 'Government finance and EDP', more legal acts relevant for national accounts can be found.
The agreement between the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on cooperation in the field of statistics (Adopted on 2 December 2019; Entry into force on 2 December 2019) specifies the derogations that are in place for Switzerland.
6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing
National accounts data are key datasets used and published by many international organisations to improve data consistency and exploit synergies for data collection and validation. An initiative to improve data sharing for National Accounts was launched in 2016 by the Inter-Agency Group on Economic and Financial Statistics (comprising representatives of the Bank for International Settlements, the European Central Bank, Eurostat, the IMF, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, the United Nations, and the World Bank) under the G20 Data Gap Initiative.
Switerland is not concerned by those sharing practices. The data are transmitted directly to each international organisation.
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 on European statistics (recital 24 and Article 20(4)) of 11 March 2009 (OJ L 87, p. 164), stipulates the need to establish common principles and guidelines ensuring the confidentiality of data used for the production of European statistics and the access to those confidential data with due account for technical developments and the requirements of users in a democratic society. The European Statistics Code of Practice provides further conditions that have to be respected by statistical offices in regard to statistical confidentiality (Principle 5).
Switzerland follows the european statistics code of practice.
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
In a statistical sense, ‘confidential data’ means data which allow statistical units to be identified, either directly or indirectly, thereby disclosing individual information. To determine whether a statistical unit is identifiable, account shall be taken of all relevant means that might reasonably be used by a third party to identify the statistical unit. Although national accounts data are usually highly aggregated, there may be possible cases for detailed breakdowns of aggregates and/or small economies. In these cases measures should be taken in order not to disclose data of a separate statistical unit. Guidance on how to prevent disclosure can be found in the Handbook on Statistical Disclosure Control.
Switzerland does not transmitt and publish any individual data or data which allow statistical units to be identified.
8.1. Release calendar
Good practice requires that new national accounts data and associated news releases are announced in a release calendar that is published well in advance of the respective releases.
The new national account data are announced on a the general agenda of the Swiss federal statistical office.
The quarterly national account data are announced in a release calender published at the end of the preceding year on the internet (www.seco.admin.ch/gdp, see the tab "agenda").
8.2. Release calendar access
Release calendars should be easily available and accessible for users, e.g. by publication on the website of an NSI.
In line with the Community legal framework and the European Statistics Code of Practice (Principle 6 on impartiality and objectivity, Principle 13 on timeliness and punctuality and Principle 15 on accessibility and clarity), national accounts data that meet the quality standards, including relevant metadata, should be made available to users. Users should be informed when the data become available and how they can be accessed.
Uers are informed of new data, publications, studies by a newsmail.
New quarterly national accounts data are published each quarter: 4 times per year. However, depending on circumstances and national practices, initially released quarterly national accounts data may be revised and disseminated again. Annual national accounts data are published at least once a year: when data for a new year are added. But, depending on country practices and revision policy, annual data can also be published more often, e.g. publication of a provisional estimate early in the calendar year and a revised one later in the calendar year.
Quarterly national accounts data (main aggregates) ar published 4 times per year. The first annual data (main aggregates) are published together with the fourth quarter's data (T+2 months). The second annual data of the main agregates and the rest of the annual national accounts are published at the end of August (T+8 months).
10.1. Dissemination format - News release
The most important results of national accounts are issued in news releases. New key national accounts data may also be presented in press conferences or press briefings. The exact dates are pre-announced in release calendars (see section 8.1 above).
Switzerland publishes regular reports. Occasionaly when it is necessary (for ex. introduction of the new ESA 2010) a press conference is organised. The publication of the quarterly data is accompanied by a press release.
10.2. Dissemination format - Publications
In addition to news releases, national accounts data may be disseminated in other publications, such as statistical papers, yearbooks, internal and external articles. Usually this concerns publications in which more in-depth analysis is carried out.
Depending on the situation, some specific papers can be published. When a revision occurs, the new data are always accompanied by a publication. The implementation of new methodological aspects can also be the topic of a publication. Additionally, the quarterly data are described in depth in the quarterly bulletin "Konjunkturtendenzen", available in German and in French (www.seco.admin.ch/konjunkturtendenzen).
10.3. Dissemination format - online database
In order to enable easy access to national accounts data, all validated national accounts data should be made available to users by publishing them in an online database.
In addition to news releases and other publications (see sections 10.1 and 10.2), information on national accounts may be posted using social media.
Our national accounts data can be linked to the social medias (facebook, twitter, Xing). The data are published in four languages (french, german, italian and english)
10.6. Documentation on methodology
The general methodological framework for the compilation of national accounts in the EU is ESA 2010.
In addition, several handbooks have been developed to help compilers to produce national accounts data. Some of the most important methodological manuals are the Handbook on quarterly national accounts, Manual on regional accounts methods, Eurostat Manual of Supply, Use and Input-Output Tables, Manual on Government Deficit and Debt. Also, guidance manuals on specific topics are available, e.g. compilation guide on land estimation, compilation guide on inventories, Manual on measuring Research and Development in ESA 2010.
The manuals above specifically apply to EU national accounts statistics. However, world-wide equivalents are often also available: SNA 2008, Quarterly National Accounts Manual, Handbook on Input-Output Table Compilation and Analysis, Government Finance Statistics Manual.
The importance of national accounts requires that documentation should be available on the procedures applied for quality management and quality assessment. Examples of such documentation are national accounts quality reports, quality studies and reports on revision analysis.
The Swiss national accounts produce quality managements procedures, which are described in a handbook (only internal).
11.1. Quality assurance
Quality of national accounts data is assured by strict application of ESA 2010 concepts and by applying the guidelines of the ESS handbook for quality reports.
During the overall compilation process, national and regional accounts data undergo several kinds of quality checks, e.g. ex-ante (source statistics), ongoing (results), ex-post (methods used) and external checks (Eurostat, European or national Court of Auditors, IMF).
Switerland applies the ESA 2010 concepts. A procedure for checking the accounts has been established with the Economic Structure and Analyses Department (WSA) of the SFSO, which is also responsible for its implementation. A detailed description of the various national accounts processes has also been drawn up. This description ensures transparency in the management of the processes, thus providing a clear view of all the activities involved in calculating GNI. In addition, it makes it possible to standardize working methods, thereby promoting consistency within the system.
Our data undergo through the Eurostat's regular checks. Furthermore our data are analised by IMF and OECD.
Additionally, the quarterly data undergo a number of specific quality checks (check of input data, analysis of revisions, consistency check with annual data, check of econometric models for temporal disaggregation and seasonal adjustment at least once a year, analysis of results).
Clarify further the difference between concepts 10.7 and 11.1
To further clarify: Eurostat provides methodological validation of GNI data and EDP data. If the data are not methodologically correct Eurostat puts action points and gives reservations on data.
National accounts are based on approved calculation methods and follows international recommendations. In addition, a control procedure has been developed in collaboration with the Economic Structure and Analysis Section (WSA).
In addition, there is a description of the various national accounts processes (see point 2). This description ensures transparency in the management of the processes and provides a clear view of all activities involved in calculating GNI. In addition, it allows the standardisation of working methods, which in turn promotes the coherence of the system. The overview of processes also provides better risk management, for example by allowing better anticipation of different problems that may arise. Ultimately, this improves the management of processes and procedures, which in turn makes the national accounts system more efficient.
11.2. Quality management - assessment
The national practice could be reported, for example by providing a link to the national quality report delivered by Eurostat or other nationally released quality reports (or providing a summary description of its content).
Switzerland does not release the quality reports.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
National accounts data provide key information for economic policy monitoring and decision making, for forecasting, for administrative purposes, for informing the general public about economic developments (directly or indirectly via news agencies), and as input for economic research.
At national level, ministries of finance and regional development, the Swiss National Bank (central bank), scientific and academic communities, economic researchers and journalists are usually the entities who most use national and regional accounts data.
Eurostat, IMF, OECD can be considered as “clients”.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
Views and opinions of users of national accounts statistics can be collected and analysed as one of the tools to 'measure' the relevance of national accounts data.
Switzerland is very attentive to the opinion of their clients. They consider with big attention the feedbacks on data.
Moreover, they work in close collaboration with their partners (Swiss national Bank, State Secretariat for Economic Affairs, Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority to quote some of them).
12.3. Completeness
The ESA 2010 transmission programme, consisting of 22 tables across all national accounts domains (see section10.3) defines the minimum national accounts data set that must be available in all Member States of the EU.
The agreement between the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on cooperation in the field of statistics (Adopted on 2 December 2019; Entry into force on 2 December 2019) specifies the derogations that are in place for Switzerland.
Switzerland is working on the continuous improvement completeness as required by the ESA2010 transmission programme.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
There is no specific national practice procedure but Switzerland analyses the changes between the first estimation and the following ones.
13.2. Sampling error
Not applicable.
13.3. Non-sampling error
Not applicable.
14.1. Timeliness
National accounts data should become available to users as timely as possible, taking into account the frequency of the data (annual or quarterly), the character of the data (info on the structure of an economy or on conjuncture developments) and an adequate balance between accuracy and timeliness.
The ESA 2010 transmission programme defines the required timeliness for all national accounts tables. Quarterly tables should become available between 2 and 3 months after the quarter-end. The annual tables have to be transmitted between 2 months (main aggregates) and 36 months (supply and use tables) after the end of the reference year.
The first estimation of annual data is performed by the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), which is responsible for the quarterly accounts. The annual data is then equivalent to the sum of the four quarters. Consequently, the first delivery of the annual data of the Swiss federal statistical office is in fact the second delivery for Switzerland’s annual data.
14.2. Punctuality
Good practice requires that the dates on which national accounts data become available are pre-announced and that the pre-announced publication dates are met.
National accounts data transmissions in the framework of the ESA 2010 transmission programme should be punctually delivered to Eurostat at the timeliness defined in the transmission programme (or before).
15.1. Comparability - geographical
The geographical comparability of national accounts in Member States of the EU is ensured by the application of common definitions of the European System of Accounts ESA 2010). Worldwide geographical comparison is also possible as most non-European countries apply the SNA 2008 guidelines, and SNA 2008 is consistent with ESA 2010.
Considering that the Swiss national accounts implemented ESA 2010 the comparability is ensured with most of the countries.
15.2. Comparability - over time
The data for all reference periods are compiled according to the requirements of the ESA 2010 are fully comparable over the time. When there is fundamental revision, the data are backcalculating until 1995.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
Within the system of national accounts there is full consistency between the domains: annual and quarterly national accounts, government accounts, sector accounts, financial accounts, regional accounts, supply and use tables. However, in practice full consistency may not always be possible and temporary discrepancies might occur. They are usually the result of vintage differences.
Primary statistics like structural business statistics (SBS), short term statistics (STS) and labour force statistics (LFS) are widely used as input for national accounts. However, there is no full consistency between these statistical domains and national accounts. Main reasons are differences in concepts/definitions and in coverage. Balance of payments is also used as an important source for national accounts. The definitions and coverage of balance of payments, as defined in the BPM6 manual, are fully harmonised with those in ESA 2010. Therefore, balance of payments variables are in principle fully coherent with the corresponding national accounts variables.
15.4. Coherence - internal
See section 15.3 (Coherence - cross domain).
quarterly data and annual data are consistent
Not available.
17.1. Data revision - policy
National accounts data are subject to continuous revisions as new input data become available. They are called routine revisions and entail regular revisions of country data and of the European aggregates, which are derived from the former.
More rarely, exceptional revisions (called benchmark revisions) will result from major changes in data sources, classifications or methodology. For example, when changing from ESA95 to ESA 2010, a benchmark revision occurred at country level and at euro area/EU data level.
Two Task Forces developed proposals for a more harmonised approach for benchmark and routine revisions. The one under the auspices of the Directors of Macroeconomic Statistics (DMES) dealt with benchmark revision policy, the other under the auspices of the Committee on Monetary, Financial, and Balance of Payments Statistics (CMFB) on the European Harmonised Revision Policy dealing with routine revisions.
The revision policy and the timetable did not change in 2017. Since the revision of 2014, the Swiss annual national accounts publication timetable is the following:
- the first annual data are published at t+2 months;
- second annual data at t+9 months;
- third annual data at t+21 months;
- definitive annual data at t+33 months.
The data revision policy for the quarterly data is published on the internet (www.seco.admin.ch/gdp, see "concepts")
The timetable for the publication of the quarterly national accounts is:
- publication at about t+60 days
The revision policy for the quarterly national accounts is:
- revision back for several quarters of the non-adjusted data with each data release
- revision of the seasonally and calender adjusted series with each data release
- revision of the last three years in the august/september release, when the second estimate for the annual figures is available
- After main conceptual or methodological changes of the national accounts (benchmark revisions), the whole time series may be revised.
17.2. Data revision - practice
While revisions should be seen as a process to progressively improve the quality of national accounts as e.g. better sources and/or methods become available, the availability of metadata on revisions is a key element for understanding national accounts data and revisions between subsequent releases.
Therefore, information on the main reasons for revisions and their nature (new source data available, new methods, etc.) as well as possibly quantitative and qualitative assessment on the average size of revisions and their direction based on historical data is required.
18.1. Source data
National and regional accounts compilation builds up on statistics that are primarily collected for other purposes (primary statistics).
It relies on a variety of data sources, including administrative data: car and business registers, accounting statements, tax data, budgetary reports, population censuses, statistical surveys of businesses and households, statements of supervising institutions and branch organisations, annual and quarterly reports, trade statistics on goods and services, balance of payments information.
There is no single survey source for national accounts. Sources vary from country to country and provide statistical information on a large set of economic, social, financial and environmental phenomena, which may not be strictly related to national accounts.
Sources and collection methods used in each country vary depending on the specific dataset.
Overall, it is difficult to be exhaustive in the listing of data sources. Inventories provided to Eurostat usually include information on main sources (see section 10.6). Further information on data sources can be found on the national websites.
National accounts are usually compiled on an annual or quarterly basis from other primary statistics. The frequency of data collection of primary statistics varies according to the nature of the data source. For example, business statistics are typically available on a monthly (and quarterly) basis. Some households' surveys are available on quarterly or annual frequency (sometimes even less frequent). Availability of administrative data varies from country to country. Population censuses are mostly collected every decade.
The frequency and timing of the compilation of national accounts are not necessary aligned with the frequency and timing of (all) primary statistics data collections.
National accounts departments typically receive/collect information in relation to their compilation schedule, i.e. for their annual or quarterly estimates. Countries can provide a description of the time of receiving external data.
For the quarterly data and the first annual estimation: mostly statistical data available at quarterly frequency no later than at t+50 days
For the second annual estimation, Switzerland mainly uses two types of data sources:
- statistical data, which we receive in t+ 4 to t+6 months;
- administrative data, which we receive in t+5 to t+7 months;
For the third annual estimation we mainly use two types of data sources:
- statistical data, which we receive in t+17 to t+19 months;
- administrative data, which we receive in t+16 to t+18 months;
For the definitive annual estimation we do not receive any data from new sources.
18.3. Data collection
Collaboration and data exchange agreements between the National Accounts Unit and the suppliers of basic data have been reached with the Swiss National Bank, the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA), the Federal Finance Administration, the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security and the Federal Office of Public Health.
However, the quality of the national accounts calculations is continuously checked during the calculation process so that possible shortcomings or errors can be detected and eliminated as soon as possible.
18.4. Data validation
Data validation refers to any activity aimed at verifying that the value of a data item comes from a given set of acceptable values. It is a key task performed in all statistical domains and particularly important for national accounts, which is a key dataset for economic analysis and policy decisions.
In order to increase overall data quality and workflow efficiency, the European Statistical System (ESS) is moving towards more harmonisation of validation activities including the definition of common standards, tools and support for implementation (see ESS validation website). National accounts are a pilot in this area. An ESA 2010 Task Force on validation was established in 2015 to agree and document validation rules in an ESA 2010 validation handbook and progressively implement them in a pre-validation service for national accounts data.
The confrontation of data from different sources is an integral part of the national accounts compilation. Source data used in national accounts undergo a sequence of checks within NSIs. For the validation of national accounts data, country applies minimum validation rules agreed with Eurostat and provides metadata to support the validation process with respect to revisions and outliers. Further information on validation checks can be found on the website.
18.5. Data compilation
Data sources, methods and compilation techniques are country specific, but should be employed in such a way that the definitions and concepts in ESA 2010 are met. Many guidance documents on general and specific national accounts compilation issues are available. See for more details section 10.6.
Key approaches and techniques for the compilation of national accounts in country X can be summarised as follows:
The leading approach(es) to compile GDP in the framework of annual national accounts in country X is/are the (production, expenditure/income) approach. Consistency is obtained via reconciliation/balancing process. Notably, changes in inventories and valuables or gross operating surplus and mixed income are derived as residuals. The same/another approach is used for the compilation of quarterly national accounts. Sector accounts are compiled after/together with main aggregates.
National accounts datasets are generally consistent (list main exceptions/explanations).
For related information see also sections 10.6. and 17.1.
A part of the required description can be found in our GDP/GNI inventories.
18.6. Adjustment
The objectives of seasonal adjustment are to identify and remove seasonal fluctuations and calendar effects which can mask short and long-term movements in a time series and impede a clear understanding of underlying phenomena. Seasonal adjustment is therefore a fundamental process in the interpretation of time series to inform policy making (ESS guidelines on seasonal adjustment, 2015 Edition, Annex, point 1).
For selected sub-annual national accounts data, such as notably the quarterly main aggregates, time series are usually not only published in their unadjusted form, but also with various types of adjustment (e.g. seasonal, calendar, trend-cycle).
According to the ESA transmission programme, quarterly data are to be provided in non-seasonally adjusted form, as well as in seasonally adjusted form (including calendar adjustments, where relevant) except for previous year’s prices.
The provision of quarterly data that only include calendar adjustments is voluntary.
For sector accounts, seasonal adjustment (including calendar adjustments, where relevant) is compulsory for a limited set of series.
The Swiss QNA are compiled by a so-called indirect estimation approach, based on temporal disaggregation techniques. Quarterly estimates are derived from the available annual data, using statistical methods and quarterly indicators. The accuracy of the preliminary annual estimates, obtained as the sum of the quarterly estimated values, depends to a large extent on the quality of the available and retained quarterly indicators. For seasonal and calendar adjustment, Swiss QNA currently relies on the X13-Arima-Seats method. The seasonally and calendar adjusted data are not benchmarked to the unadjusted annual data.
The Swiss QNA are based on software routines written in the statistical software R. The core routines include a package with methods for temporal disaggregation of time series, as well as an interface to the new X13-ARIMA-SEATS software for seasonal adjustment. Both are publicly available and can be used and modified under the terms of the General Public Licence (GPL-3).
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National accounts data concern all data produced and disseminated for an economy according to the definitions and guidelines of the European System of Accounts (ESA 2010).
National accounts provide data for the total economy, but may also include breakdowns of the total economy (into sectors, industries, products, regions, etc.). National accounts provide data for several domains: annual and quarterly national accounts (main aggregates), sector accounts, financial accounts, supply and use and input-output tables, regional accounts and government finance statistics.
One of the main aggregates of national accounts is the change rate of the price-adjusted gross domestic product (GDP), which indicates the economic development of a country of region and is also referred to as economic growth rate.
In Eurobase, countries' data are presented following the usual data structure.
In Switzerland, at national level, data are commonly available for :
- annual and quarterly national accounts: 'main aggregates';
- annual sector accounts;
- annual financial accounts and balance sheets;
- annual and quarterly government finance statistics data: 'main aggregates';
- industry breakdowns of main national accounts variables;
- detailed data on taxes, social contributions and government expenditure by function;
- pension entitlements in social insurance;
13 June 2018
All statistical concepts and definitions to be used in national accounts are described in Annex A of the ESA 2010 Regulation (link to blue book on ESA2010 methodology). The two main sets of tables concern: (a) the institutional sector accounts; (b) the input-output framework, and the accounts by industry.
The sector accounts provide, by institutional sector, a systematic description of the different stages of the economic process: production, generation of income, distribution of income, redistribution of income, use of income and financial and nonfinancial accumulation. The sector accounts also include balance sheets to describe the stocks of assets, liabilities and net worth at the beginning and the end of the accounting period. The variables/concepts described in the sector accounts include transactions in products, transactions in non-produced non-financial assets, distributive transactions, transactions in financial assets and liabilities, other changes in assets, non-financial and financial assets and liabilities.
The input-output framework, through the supply and use tables, sets out in more detail the production process (cost structure, income generated and employment) and the flows of goods and services (output, imports, exports, final consumption, intermediate consumption and capital formation by product group). These variables are broken down by industry (NACE Rev. 2) and product (CPA 2014).
ESA 2010 also encompasses concepts of population and employment. Such concepts are relevant for the sector accounts, the accounts by industry and the supply and use framework.
Regional accounts provide regional breakdowns for major aggregates such as gross value added by industry, gross fixed capital formation and household income. Regional breakdowns are based on the NUTS classification. National accounts concepts are also used for regional accounts.
In addition Annex A of the ESA 2010 Regulation addresses and defines numerous other concepts and definitions, such as the definition of: statistical units and their groupings, flows and stocks, accounting rules (valuation, time of recording, consolidation and netting). The main features and principles for the compilation of national accounts can be found in Chapter 1.
The following data are not available:
- capital formation by product group;
- balance sheets (sector accounts);
- regional breakdowns for gross fixed capital formation and household income.
Following the ESA 2010 guidelines, in national accounts two types of units and two corresponding ways of subdividing the economy are used: (a) institutional unit; (b) local kind-of-activity unit (local KAU). The first type is used for describing income, expenditure and financial flows as well as balance sheets. The second type of units is used for the description of production processes, for input-output analysis and for regional analysis.
An institutional unit is an economic entity characterised by decision-making autonomy in the exercise of its principal function. A resident unit is regarded as constituting 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.
A local KAU groups all the parts of an institutional unit in its capacity as producer which are located in a single site or in closely located sites, and which contribute to the performance of an activity at the class level (four digits) of the NACE Rev. 2.
An institutional unit comprises one or more local KAUs; a local KAU belongs to one and only one institutional unit.
The Swiss national accounts use two types of units: the local unit and the legal unit. The national accounts are mainly established on the legal unit concept.
The national accounts population of a country consists of all resident statistical units (institutional units or local KAUs, see section 3.5). A unit is a resident unit of a country when it has a centre of predominant economic interest on the economic territory of that country, that is, when it engages for an extended period (one year or more) in economic activities on this territory.
National accounts are exhaustive. This means that all resident statistical units are covered.
The very small entreprises of non-financial corporations are not all covered and computed.
Switzerland is allowed to compile data based on institutional units when the provisions of the regulation refer to the industry.
Agreement between the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on cooperation in the field of statistics (Adopted on 2 December 2019; Entry into force on 2 December 2019)
The usual reference period to be used for presenting national accounts data is the calendar year for annual data and the quarter for quarterly data.
Two basic kinds of information are recorded: flows and stocks. Flows refer to actions and effects of events that take place within a given period of time (year or quarter), while stocks refer to positions at a point of time (usually the beginning or end of a year or quarter).
There is no specific national practice procedure but Switzerland analyses the changes between the first estimation and the following ones.
With the exception of some variables concerning population and labour that are usually expressed in number of persons, hours or jobs, the ESA 2010 system shows all flows and stocks in monetary terms: in euros or other national currency. Flows and stocks shall be measured according to their exchange value, i.e. the value at which flows and stocks are in fact, or could be, exchanged for cash. Market prices are, thus, the ESA's reference for valuation.
In addition to measurement in current (market) prices, some national accounts variables are also expressed in previous year's prices and chain-linked volumes, see section 3.9. Furthermore, it is possible to derive growth rates and indices, and various other measures '(e.g. percentages, per capita data, data expressed in purchasing power standards)' can be applied as well.
Data sources, methods and compilation techniques are country specific, but should be employed in such a way that the definitions and concepts in ESA 2010 are met. Many guidance documents on general and specific national accounts compilation issues are available. See for more details section 10.6.
Key approaches and techniques for the compilation of national accounts in country X can be summarised as follows:
The leading approach(es) to compile GDP in the framework of annual national accounts in country X is/are the (production, expenditure/income) approach. Consistency is obtained via reconciliation/balancing process. Notably, changes in inventories and valuables or gross operating surplus and mixed income are derived as residuals. The same/another approach is used for the compilation of quarterly national accounts. Sector accounts are compiled after/together with main aggregates.
National accounts datasets are generally consistent (list main exceptions/explanations).
For related information see also sections 10.6. and 17.1.
A part of the required description can be found in our GDP/GNI inventories.
National and regional accounts compilation builds up on statistics that are primarily collected for other purposes (primary statistics).
It relies on a variety of data sources, including administrative data: car and business registers, accounting statements, tax data, budgetary reports, population censuses, statistical surveys of businesses and households, statements of supervising institutions and branch organisations, annual and quarterly reports, trade statistics on goods and services, balance of payments information.
There is no single survey source for national accounts. Sources vary from country to country and provide statistical information on a large set of economic, social, financial and environmental phenomena, which may not be strictly related to national accounts.
Sources and collection methods used in each country vary depending on the specific dataset.
Overall, it is difficult to be exhaustive in the listing of data sources. Inventories provided to Eurostat usually include information on main sources (see section 10.6). Further information on data sources can be found on the national websites.
New quarterly national accounts data are published each quarter: 4 times per year. However, depending on circumstances and national practices, initially released quarterly national accounts data may be revised and disseminated again. Annual national accounts data are published at least once a year: when data for a new year are added. But, depending on country practices and revision policy, annual data can also be published more often, e.g. publication of a provisional estimate early in the calendar year and a revised one later in the calendar year.
Quarterly national accounts data (main aggregates) ar published 4 times per year. The first annual data (main aggregates) are published together with the fourth quarter's data (T+2 months). The second annual data of the main agregates and the rest of the annual national accounts are published at the end of August (T+8 months).
National accounts data should become available to users as timely as possible, taking into account the frequency of the data (annual or quarterly), the character of the data (info on the structure of an economy or on conjuncture developments) and an adequate balance between accuracy and timeliness.
The ESA 2010 transmission programme defines the required timeliness for all national accounts tables. Quarterly tables should become available between 2 and 3 months after the quarter-end. The annual tables have to be transmitted between 2 months (main aggregates) and 36 months (supply and use tables) after the end of the reference year.
The first estimation of annual data is performed by the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), which is responsible for the quarterly accounts. The annual data is then equivalent to the sum of the four quarters. Consequently, the first delivery of the annual data of the Swiss federal statistical office is in fact the second delivery for Switzerland’s annual data.
The geographical comparability of national accounts in Member States of the EU is ensured by the application of common definitions of the European System of Accounts ESA 2010). Worldwide geographical comparison is also possible as most non-European countries apply the SNA 2008 guidelines, and SNA 2008 is consistent with ESA 2010.
Considering that the Swiss national accounts implemented ESA 2010 the comparability is ensured with most of the countries.
The data for all reference periods are compiled according to the requirements of the ESA 2010 are fully comparable over the time. When there is fundamental revision, the data are backcalculating until 1995.
