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 indicator is the Construction Producer Price Index (CPPI). However, Malta compiles the Construction Cost Index (CCI), which is an approximation to the CPPI. The indicator shows the trend in the cost of new residential buildings.
3.2. Classification system
The classifications used in STS is NACE rev.2
3.3. Coverage - sector
Section F (Construction) of NACE Rev 2 classification.
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
There are 3 specific indices for this indicator. The labour cost index, the material cost index and the total construction cost index. The labour cost index covers the expenses related to the labour involved in the construction industry. Basically, this covers the wages and salaries paid per hour worked. The material cost index covers the costs of material used in the construction industry. The construction cost is the total cost in the construction industry, made up of the labour cost and the material cost. The use of SBS weights is used for the 2 sub indices.
3.5. Statistical unit
Kind of Activity Unit (KAU)
3.6. Statistical population
There are approximately 120 units for the labour cost index, while for the material cost index the PPI data are used.
3.7. Reference area
The indicator covers the national territory of the Maltese Islands.
3.8. Coverage - Time
The data are compiled from 2000.
3.9. Base period
Base year (year on which weights are based): 2021
Reference year (year when the index equals 100): 2021
The same base and reference years are used for data published locally and that transmitted to Eurostat.
The data are provided in index form.
The data are collected and published on a quarterly basis.
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
Data Sharing matters are governed by the Malta Statistics Authority Act XXIV of 2000. The LCI data are not provided to any other organisations.
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
Apart from the established legislative framework, the NSO is also guided by an internal general confidentiality policy. Data tagged as confidential are not available for publication.
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
Confidentiality matters are regulated by the Malta Statistics Authority Act XXIV of 2000. Such data are marked as such.
8.1. Release calendar
An advance release calendar is published on the NSOs website.
8.2. Release calendar access
ll releases are published and disseminated at 1100 hrs as scheduled in the Advance Release Calendar. The calendar is published on the NSO website and includes a 3 month advance notice (the current month and the next two months).
No news release is published for this indicator.
8.3. Release policy - user access
National statistical releases are issued according to the release calendar and are made available to all users simultaneously.
Data are only sent to Eurostat.
Eurostat transmissions for this index are carried out on a quarterly basis and 90 days after the end of the reference period.
10.1. Dissemination format - News release
Not available
10.2. Dissemination format - Publications
The short-term statistics only publishes its figures in an annual compendium named Malta in Figures or Trends in Malta. These can be accessed from the NSO website.
10.3. Dissemination format - online database
The NSO website offers an online statistical database (StatDB) that provides a more in-depth analysis for the more expert statistical user or researcher. The StatDB requires registration as only registered users can extract data from the database. Registration is free-of-charge.
10.4. Dissemination format - microdata access
In general, index results made available to Eurostat ensure a sufficient degree of representativeness of data. More detailed data than that published locally and internationally are available on request but are subject to the confidentiality clauses.
In such cases, data are provided in index form. Micro data are not provided to users.
10.5. Dissemination format - other
Data are only transmitted to Eurostat.
10.6. Documentation on methodology
The main document used for the production of this index is the following:
The NSO quality assurance principles are developed according to the ESS Handbook for Quality Reports (2014).
11.2. Quality management - assessment
Aspects of quality are divided into several steps. These are specifying needs, designing and building data instruments and collecting, processing, analysing, disseminating, archiving and evaluating data. The main guiding principles in quality management are found in the:
All deadlines were respected during the course of the year.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
To ensure geographical comparability across member states the index is compiled according to the STS Regulations and STS Methodological Guidelines. The same concepts are applied to the whole national territory of the Maltese Islands.
15.2. Comparability - over time
Data are comparable over time.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
Data are not compared with any other source.
15.4. Coherence - internal
Aggregates are consistent with the other components.
No official costs and burden have been compiled. However, it is estimated that the compilation of this index amount to around 200 hours per year.
17.1. Data revision - policy
Revisions are carried according to the European Business Statistics Regulation. Internal procedures are also established.
The same revision policy is applied to both data released nationally (although this indicator is not released nationally) and that sent to Eurostat.
Revision analysis is carried out before every transmission sent to Eurostat and clear explanations are also sought. Detailed explanations at micro data level are also analysed but only used internally for quality information purposes. Generally, this index will have routine minor revisions due to actual data replacing estimates. Major revisions may also be done but this will be on an exceptional basis.
A revision calendar does not exist.
17.2. Data revision - practice
Data marked as provisional are revised when actual data are received and estimates are replaced.
However, major changes are rare in this index except for an improvement in methodology.
18.1. Source data
The data for the labour cost index are obtained from the gross wages and salaries and hours worked data. The material cost index is derived from the PPI data.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Quarterly
18.3. Data collection
Data are derived from already available STS data.
18.4. Data validation
Validations of format and file structure checks and intra-dataset checks are checked with the use of in-house excel sheets and access databases.
Revisions analysis is also carried out for every data transmission sent to Eurostat using in-house access queries. When data revisions are significantly large, a short explanation is also given to Eurostat.
18.5. Data compilation
Non-response is treated by micro-estimation to ensure a full response for all surveyed units.
The current file conversion is GESMES/TS and the plan is to use the SDMX-ML tool in the future.
18.6. Adjustment
No adjustments are done.
No further comments.
The indicator is the Construction Producer Price Index (CPPI). However, Malta compiles the Construction Cost Index (CCI), which is an approximation to the CPPI. The indicator shows the trend in the cost of new residential buildings.
13 June 2025
There are 3 specific indices for this indicator. The labour cost index, the material cost index and the total construction cost index. The labour cost index covers the expenses related to the labour involved in the construction industry. Basically, this covers the wages and salaries paid per hour worked. The material cost index covers the costs of material used in the construction industry. The construction cost is the total cost in the construction industry, made up of the labour cost and the material cost. The use of SBS weights is used for the 2 sub indices.
Kind of Activity Unit (KAU)
There are approximately 120 units for the labour cost index, while for the material cost index the PPI data are used.
The indicator covers the national territory of the Maltese Islands.
The data are collected and published on a quarterly basis.
The overall accuracy of the indicator is considered to be of good quality.
Sampling error is negligible, non-sampling error is small and the first estimates are not biased.
The data are provided in index form.
Non-response is treated by micro-estimation to ensure a full response for all surveyed units.
The current file conversion is GESMES/TS and the plan is to use the SDMX-ML tool in the future.
The data for the labour cost index are obtained from the gross wages and salaries and hours worked data. The material cost index is derived from the PPI data.
Eurostat transmissions for this index are carried out on a quarterly basis and 90 days after the end of the reference period.
The index is disseminated 90 days after the reference period.
To ensure geographical comparability across member states the index is compiled according to the STS Regulations and STS Methodological Guidelines. The same concepts are applied to the whole national territory of the Maltese Islands.
