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.
This metadata is associated with the following tables in Eurobase:
Capital stocks by industry and by detailed asset type (nama_10_nfa_st)
Capital stocks by sector and by detailed asset type (nama_10_nfa_bs)
Capital formation by industry and by detailed asset type (nama_10_a64_p5)
Quarterly and annual gross fixed capital formation by main asset type (namq_10_an6 and nama_10_an6)
Stocks and flows are closely related. Stocks result from the accumulation of prior transactions and other flows, and they are changed by transactions and other flows in the accounting period (SNA 2008, § 2.4). The data sets above can therefore be analysed together.
The associated transmission programme(Annex B) defines compulsory data. Data are compiled at the level of the total economy at industry and institutional sector level and by asset breakdowns. The classifications applied are described below.
Economic activity
ESA 2010 uses aggregation levels of the NACE Rev.2 classification to define industry breakdowns (NACE stands for Nomenclature générale des Activités économiques dans les Communautés Européennes). NACE Rev.2 is a classification of economic activities widely used in statistics and in other domains. Requirements for the transmission of NACE Rev.2 series have been specified in the Commission Regulation (EC) No 715/2010 of 10 August 2010.
Asset types
Asset types for non-financial fixed assets are classified according to ESA 2010 (Table 7.1 and Chapter 23).
Institutional sector
Breakdowns by institutional sector include total economy (S.1), non-financial corporations (S.11), financial corporations (S.12), general government (S.13), households (S.14), and non-profit institutions serving households (S.15).
More details and specific information can be found in relevant metadata file (link in concept 3.1).
3.3. Coverage - sector
The ESA 2010 transmission programme, as outlined in annex B of EU regulation 2023/734, which amended the European system of regional and national accounts (ESA 2010), defines the datasets that national statistical authorities of the EU countries have to transmit to Eurostat for the compilation of the European accounts.
For capital stocks, gross capital formation, gross fixed capital formation, consumption of fixed capital and balance sheets, countries are required to transmit annual data. Balance sheets are broken down by asset group and by institutional sector; the other variables are broken down by asset group and NACE industry (various levels). Quarterly data for gross fixed capital formation is also transmitted.
More information about each data set can be found in relevant metadata file (see links in concept 3.1).
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
These data sets require the understanding of various technical concepts, e.g. asset, fixed assets, (produced and non-produced) non-financial assets, fixed capital, capital stock (gross and net), consumption of fixed capital, gross capital formation, and gross fixed capital formation.
According to the ESA 2010, 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 units used in the national accounts data published by Eurostat are, in principle, the local KAU or the institutional unit as defined in ESA 2010. This is the case for both the country data received, and for the euro area and EU aggregates compiled by Eurostat. However, deviations might occur where the units used in the received country data are not fully compliant with the ESA 2010 guidelines.
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.
3.7. Reference area
Eurostat publishes data for EU and Euro area aggregates, for individual EU Member States, Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, and enlargement countries if data are available. EU Member States and EFTA (countries have legal obligations to submit their data to Eurostat as defined in the European System of Accounts ESA 2010 transmission programme of data.
Kosovo (under United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244/99)
3.8. Coverage - Time
Time coverage (i.e., length of the historical series) can differ for individual national series. Generally, coverage starts from 1995, with some exceptions for some tables. Some series may start in 2000 or later in line with the transmission programme requirements. Some countries may be granted derogations to transmit less detailed data, shorter periods or to transmit data beyond the legal deadline. These derogations are usually limited in time.
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.
Data on capital stocks, gross fixed capital formation, consumption of fixed capital and balance sheets are available in current prices, prices of previous year, and chain linked volumes, in euro and national currency (most frequently in millions of euro or national currency due to the magnitude of the values).
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
Stocks of fixed assets, gross fixed capital formation, consumption of fixed capital, balance sheets data are based on national accounts which are compiled in accordance with a methodology on common standards, definitions, classifications and accounting rules laid down in Annex A and in respect of the time limits set out in Annex B of the EU regulation 2023/734, which amended the European system of regional and national accounts (ESA 2010). Data on Research and development was added in Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/1365.
6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing
Data received via the transmission programme are shared with other institutions in accordance with specific agreements, notably with the ECB and the OECD.
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.
If Member States transmit data with a confidentiality flag or an embargo date, these data are not disseminated until the confidentiality flag is removed in a subsequent data transmission or the embargo expired.
Some EU/EA aggregates can be made confidential to protect the confidentiality of some country data.
8.1. Release calendar
EU/EA aggregates are compiled based on underlying national accounts transmitted by member states and European aggregates when available.
8.2. Release calendar access
Indicative publication dates for main data releases are published on the Eurostat website
8.3. Release policy - user access
In line with the Community legal framework and the European Statistics Code of Practice Eurostat disseminates European statistics on Eurostat's website (see item 10 - 'Accessibility and clarity') 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.
The dissemination of data is aligned with the transmission requirements for each dataset which are defined in the ESA 2010 transmission programme:
Quarterly data is only required for gross fixed capital formation,
Annual data is required for gross fixed capital formation, capital stocks, consumption of fixed capital, and balance sheets.
No specific news release is foreseen at this stage.
10.2. Dissemination format - Publications
No specific publication is foreseen at this stage.
10.3. Dissemination format - online database
EU/EA aggregates are derived and disseminated in Eurostat’s online database (Eurobase) when underlying input data are published after successful validation process.
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 quality (accuracy/consistency) checks carried out by Eurostat on the received country data are described in a validation handbook. From 2017 onwards also annual quality reports are available. They describe several dimensions of the quality of countries' national accounts data transmissions.
GNI Inventories contain very relevant information on the quality of the data underlying the GNI data transmitted by countries to Eurostat. GNI Inventories contain sections on the estimation of capital stocks, consumption of fixed capital, gross fixed capital formation and balance sheets.
11.1. Quality assurance
Quality is assured by strict application of ESA 2010 concepts and by thorough validation of the data delivered by countries.
Users of annual national accounts data are typically interested in analysing structural changes in the economy from a medium-term perspective.
Data on gross fixed capital formation is used to compile stocks of fixed assets and balance sheets, which on its hand is very much used in economic and productivity analyses. Reliable measurement of productivity, in particular capital productivity, depends on accurate capital related data, including gross fixed capital formation.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
Eurostat directly monitors the use of this data with users (e.g. DG ECFIN, ECB, OECD) and takes their needs into account.
12.3. Completeness
Completeness rates of underlying ESA data transmissions are assessed in annual quality reports. They are in general very high.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
Eurostat assesses the accuracy of national data by systematically applying validation checks to all national accounts transmissions of countries. Accuracy of national accounts estimates is analysed in terms of revisions. For more information see Section 13 of na10 .
13.2. Sampling error
National accountants use primary statistics collected for other purposes (e.g. population, production, business, government, external trade, households) to compile national accounts data. The nature of these data sources is so varied that the concept of sampling error is meaningless and not applicable when compiling accounts based on such primary statistics.
13.3. Non-sampling error
Not applicable.
14.1. Timeliness
Member States are required to transmit their data to Eurostat in compliance with the deadlines defined in the ESA 2010 transmission programme.
14.2. Punctuality
The punctuality of transmissions is usually very high and is reported in the annual ESA quality reports.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
The comparability is ensured by the application of common definitions (ESA 2010). For compilation practices of fixed assets related data, Eurostat launched a questionnaire collecting information amongst compliers which is documented here: Non financial assets.
In 2020, Eurostat launched a Task Force on fixed assets and estimation of consumption of fixed capital under ESA 2010 to develop a set of recommendations aiming at further harmonising the parameters of the perpetual inventory model (PIM) widely used in compiling capital stocks data and consumption of fixed capital.
15.2. Comparability - over time
By using a common framework, the ESA 2010, data can be comparable over time. In the case of fundamental changes to methods or classifications, revisions of long time series are performed, usually going far back into the past. If the series contain some break suggesting that some structural change occurred in the series at a certain point in time, a flag “B” is inserted in the first period (year) when it occurs.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
Related time series are available from the other domains on National Accounts and from Eurostat publications. Data validation is done together with other national accounts data and it undergoes additivity, plausibility, integrity and inter-table coherence checks. Validation checks ensuring the coherence between various asset-related data, e.g. gross fixed capital formation, stocks of fixed assets, consumption of fixed capital, balance sheets are also performed.
15.4. Coherence - internal
In between Eurostat releases of EU/EA aggregates, Member States may revise their figures; Eurostat publishes the new Member States' accounts shortly after reception but does not recalculate the EU aggregated accounts until the next scheduled EU release. Geographical coherence may thus be lost for a brief period. This should be corrected in the next publication of EU/EA aggregates.
Annual national accounts are produced from a large variety of data sources with varying degrees of timeliness, taking up to three years or more in the case of structural sources. As users need national and international data as fast as possible, particularly on certain key aggregates, data are produced using data sources that are more readily available. As more complete source data are obtained, the statistics are updated to incorporate the new information.
Revisions of macroeconomic statistics are necessary to improve data quality. To minimise the inconvenience for data users, the European Statistical System (ESS) and the European System of Central Banks (ESCB) try to strike the right balance between incorporating the necessary statistical revisions and maintaining an acceptable degree of consistency across domains and countries. To this end, the two systems have worked together to draw the HERP.
According to HERP, a distinction should be made between 'routine' revisions and 'major' or 'benchmark' revisions.
Routine revisions
Routine revisions refer to the changes made to the economic data published initially and to its subsequent releases for a particular reference year.
According to the guidelines laid down in HERP, annual estimates are usually revised retrospectively for up to four years to incorporate annual data sources as well as changes following Excessive Deficit Procedure and Own Resources notifications, although the policy allows unlimited revisions for transmissions at t+9 months. Some countries are obliged to publish the initial annual data for reference year t-1 in the second calendar quarter of the year instead of the third quarter.
The sequence of publications/revisions regarding annual data, in calendar year t, is as follows:
Quarter 1: First estimate of annual data for year t-1, usually corresponding to the sum of the quarterly figures released;
Quarter 2: First possible revision of annual data for year t-1 to include revisions of quarters of t-1;
Quarter 3: First estimate of annual data for year t-1 based on both annual and first available sources;
Quarter 4: Exceptional revisions of annual data for year t-1 may be carried out to take into account changes following Excessive Deficit Procedure and Own Resources notifications (GNI Committee).
According to the principles of HERP, the maximum depth of revisions in each quarter is 4 years, as the majority of NSIs work on a cycle of 3-4 years after which the data can be considered final. However, all years may be open to revisions during the third quarter of the year and during benchmark revisions.
HERP requires that national revision practices are aligned across statistical domains. This implies that annual routine revisions are carried out with identical timing and depth of revision across all statistical domains, to eliminate vintage differences as a source of inconsistencies. This part of the policy is also important in the context of ensuring consistency between national accounts and BOP/IIP. HERP requires at least one point in time where cross-domain consistency must be achieved; namely, in the 3rd quarter when annual revisions are also carried out.
In addition, HERP covers domains with annual and quarterly data reporting frequencies and requires alignment between quarterly and annual tables. HERP requires that all countries align their quarterly and annual frequencies across all domains, at least, in the third quarter.
Benchmark revisions
Benchmark revision is carried out at much longer time intervals. Its purpose is to incorporate the main new data sources and major changes in international statistical methodology (such as ESA 2010 or BPM6). In benchmark revision, many years are open for revision in order to create the longest possible consistent time series.
Disseminating the results of a benchmark revision always involves revising all, or at least a large part of the time series. HERP requires that benchmark revisions result in break-free series at least for the timespan required on a mandatory basis by the ESA 2010 Transmission Programme. Breaks in the series should be temporary and appropriately flagged with the ‘B’ flag.
The coordination and communication of benchmark revisions are prepared well in advance. Benchmark revisions are publicly announced in advance of the release date, at least a quarter in advance for annual and quarterly statistics. The actual release of the results of a benchmark revision are accompanied by sufficient documentation that allows users to appropriately assess the new presentation of the macroeconomic and/or social situation.
Eurostat plays a central role in the communication of European harmonised benchmark revisions.Information is published on the Eurostat website. The impact of benchmark revisions is analysed in statistical publications and presented to various technical fora, including key users and policy makers.
Non-scheduled revisions
Non-scheduled revisions take place on an ad-hoc basis, outside the European harmonised approach. While there is no comprehensive set of recommendations agreed at EU level for when non-scheduled revisions, good practices regarding metadata and communication on non-scheduled revisions are discussed in the "Practical guidelines for revising ESA 2010 data".
Since they could confuse users and thus damage user confidence in official statistics, non-scheduled revisions should always be an exception and should be avoided where possible. If the benefits of carrying out a non-scheduled revision are assessed as clearly outweighing the disadvantages of waiting to integrate the results into a forthcoming benchmark revision, there should be a clear communication strategy.
Non-scheduled revisions may be often related to errors. Reported errors are assessed for seriousness to determine whether they should trigger a correction of already disseminated data.
Reported errors in national data that are deemed to be significant are corrected in the disseminated data as soon as the correct data have been validated. Corrections for other errors in national data are most often carried out in connection with the regular scheduled data dissemination/ regular revision. The EU aggregates are revised according to the pre-announced release calendar. Errors in national data have rarely a substantial impact on aggregates.
National Statistical Offices and National Central Banks agreed to gradually implement the HERP. The level of adherence to the guidelines of Member States' revision policies is regularly monitored through the ESA 2010 quality reporting.
Information on adherence to HERP and the national revision policies is available at: Data revision.
17.2. Data revision - practice
Routine revisions for annual data
National accounts data at country level are subject to continuous routine revisions as new input data becomes available. Countries’ data are revised according to country schedules, and revisions become visible in Eurostat's online database as soon as new data is transmitted to and validated by Eurostat.
Countries’ revisions will typically result in revisions of the European aggregates, which are derived from these data, but updated estimations of the European aggregates are only released on specific dates. Annual data may be revised twice every quarter with the release of quarterly figures (65 days and approximately 110 days after the end of the reference quarter). The dates are pre-announced in the release calendar on Eurostat's website (see 8.2). On these occasions, previously published figures are subject to revision for all variables and all years. The depth of revisions observed for the aggregates depend on the depth of revisions of national data.
Data may be published even if they are missing for certain variables and/or countries or flagged as provisional or of low reliability. They are replaced with final data once transmitted and validated. European aggregates are updated according to the pre-announced release calendar. The vast majority of NSIs have aligned their national release dates with the calendar of Eurostat so that European aggregates are consistent with revised country data on the release day.
Routine revisions are documented and communicated through press releases and dedicated statistical analyses. A thorough analysis based on pre-selected revision indicators is also included in the annual national quality report.
Major or benchmark revisions
In 2014, all Member States disseminated revised data according to ESA 2010. The agreed guidelines specify that Member States should disseminate the results of the next benchmark revisions in 2019 and 2024 respectively. The majority of EU countries were able to meet the 2019 target. Almost all EU countries carried out the subsequent benchmark revision in 2024.
More information on the ongoing benchmark revisions is available on this page:
Information on benchmark revisions carried out in 2019 is available in this document: Benchmark revisions 2019.
18.1. Source data
Eurostat publishes national accounts data for the European Union, euro area and country data (for EU Member States, EFTA countries, candidate countries), as well as the United States, Japan and some other countries on an ad hoc basis. The data sources for estimating EU/EA aggregates are country data transmitted by NSIs to Eurostat.
Countries use many sources to compile their national accounts, among them administrative data from government, population censuses, business surveys, external trade and balance of payments statistics, 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 and methods are used for estimating fixed assets related data.
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: About us - European Statistical System - ESS Partners.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Member States should transmit national accounts data to Eurostat upon national publication and/or in line with the deadlines specified in the ESA 2010 transmission programme. Deadlines may differ depending on the frequency of the data (annual or quarterly).
At country level, data are collected from national sources. As the breadth of the sources varies, so does the frequency of collection, from monthly to annually, and in the case of population censuses they are mostly collected every decade.
18.3. Data collection
Data in ESA 2010 are transmitted via SDMX which introduced standardised codes.
National Accounts combine data from many source statistics. Techniques of data collection vary widely, depending on the compilation approach, the source statistics available, the particular account in the system of accounts, the timeliness of data release and other factors.
18.4. Data validation
Source data undergo a sequence of checks within NSIs. Eurostat checks national data mainly for completeness (coverage of reference periods and variables), consistency (accounting consistency, time-consistency between quarterly and annual accounts and consistency over time), additivity, plausibility, integrity, and inter-table coherence checks, and follows up with NSIs on any lack of quality in this respect. Validation checks ensuring the coherence between various asset-related data, e.g. gross fixed capital formation, stocks of fixed assets, consumption of fixed capital, balance sheets are performed.
The same checks are applied to data for the European aggregates. Validation against data from other domains and validation of the statistical tools used are done on an ad-hoc basis
18.5. Data compilation
EU/EA aggregates are compiled by aggregating countries’ data transmitted to Eurostat. Countries’ data in current prices and previous year's prices are added up to estimate EU/EA aggregates. Data in chain-linked volumes (CLVs) are calculated from EU/EA aggregates, not added up from countries data.
For technical details on countries’ compilation practices, see countries’ metadata.
18.6. Adjustment
Annual data for gross fixed capital formation, capital stocks, consumption of fixed capital, and balance sheets is not seasonally adjusted. Quarterly data for gross fixed capital formation is adjusted for seasonal and calendar effects. For more details on seasonal adjustment techniques for quarterly data, see metadata for quarterly national accounts.
This metadata is associated with the following tables in Eurobase:
Capital stocks by industry and by detailed asset type (nama_10_nfa_st)
Capital stocks by sector and by detailed asset type (nama_10_nfa_bs)
Capital formation by industry and by detailed asset type (nama_10_a64_p5)
Quarterly and annual gross fixed capital formation by main asset type (namq_10_an6 and nama_10_an6)
Stocks and flows are closely related. Stocks result from the accumulation of prior transactions and other flows, and they are changed by transactions and other flows in the accounting period (SNA 2008, § 2.4). The data sets above can therefore be analysed together.
These data sets require the understanding of various technical concepts, e.g. asset, fixed assets, (produced and non-produced) non-financial assets, fixed capital, capital stock (gross and net), consumption of fixed capital, gross capital formation, and gross fixed capital formation.
According to the ESA 2010, 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 units used in the national accounts data published by Eurostat are, in principle, the local KAU or the institutional unit as defined in ESA 2010. This is the case for both the country data received, and for the euro area and EU aggregates compiled by Eurostat. However, deviations might occur where the units used in the received country data are not fully compliant with the ESA 2010 guidelines.
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.
Eurostat publishes data for EU and Euro area aggregates, for individual EU Member States, Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, and enlargement countries if data are available. EU Member States and EFTA (countries have legal obligations to submit their data to Eurostat as defined in the European System of Accounts ESA 2010 transmission programme of data.
Kosovo (under United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244/99)
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).
Eurostat assesses the accuracy of national data by systematically applying validation checks to all national accounts transmissions of countries. Accuracy of national accounts estimates is analysed in terms of revisions. For more information see Section 13 of na10 .
Data on capital stocks, gross fixed capital formation, consumption of fixed capital and balance sheets are available in current prices, prices of previous year, and chain linked volumes, in euro and national currency (most frequently in millions of euro or national currency due to the magnitude of the values).
EU/EA aggregates are compiled by aggregating countries’ data transmitted to Eurostat. Countries’ data in current prices and previous year's prices are added up to estimate EU/EA aggregates. Data in chain-linked volumes (CLVs) are calculated from EU/EA aggregates, not added up from countries data.
For technical details on countries’ compilation practices, see countries’ metadata.
Eurostat publishes national accounts data for the European Union, euro area and country data (for EU Member States, EFTA countries, candidate countries), as well as the United States, Japan and some other countries on an ad hoc basis. The data sources for estimating EU/EA aggregates are country data transmitted by NSIs to Eurostat.
Countries use many sources to compile their national accounts, among them administrative data from government, population censuses, business surveys, external trade and balance of payments statistics, 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 and methods are used for estimating fixed assets related data.
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: About us - European Statistical System - ESS Partners.
The dissemination of data is aligned with the transmission requirements for each dataset which are defined in the ESA 2010 transmission programme:
Quarterly data is only required for gross fixed capital formation,
Annual data is required for gross fixed capital formation, capital stocks, consumption of fixed capital, and balance sheets.
Member States are required to transmit their data to Eurostat in compliance with the deadlines defined in the ESA 2010 transmission programme.
The comparability is ensured by the application of common definitions (ESA 2010). For compilation practices of fixed assets related data, Eurostat launched a questionnaire collecting information amongst compliers which is documented here: Non financial assets.
In 2020, Eurostat launched a Task Force on fixed assets and estimation of consumption of fixed capital under ESA 2010 to develop a set of recommendations aiming at further harmonising the parameters of the perpetual inventory model (PIM) widely used in compiling capital stocks data and consumption of fixed capital.
By using a common framework, the ESA 2010, data can be comparable over time. In the case of fundamental changes to methods or classifications, revisions of long time series are performed, usually going far back into the past. If the series contain some break suggesting that some structural change occurred in the series at a certain point in time, a flag “B” is inserted in the first period (year) when it occurs.
