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 indicator is part of the overall STS indicator system which supports business cycle observation. The import price index aims to show the development of the purchase prices of goods imported from abroad.
3.2. Classification system
NACE Rev. 2.
3.3. Coverage - sector
Activities of the NACE-industries cover Sections A to C and Group 35.1 of NACE Rev. 2. Fission products, shipbuilding, aircraft industry, defense production, repair and installation of machinery and equipment and some types of civil engineering as well as some types of other goods with insignificant weights are not covered by the import price index.
All units with import value more than EUR 500,000 are included in the reference population.
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
The basic information collected is the import price excluding VAT and consumption taxes. The import price index aims to show the development of the purchase prices of goods imported from abroad. Variables, definitions and frequency of data compilation correspond with Commission Regulation (EU) 2019/2152 of 27 November 2019 in conjunction with Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197.
3.5. Statistical unit
Observation units are enterprises and reporting units are local units for the NACE Sections defined above.
3.6. Statistical population
Contract prices on imports.
3.7. Reference area
Country as a whole.
3.8. Coverage - Time
Since 1950.
3.9. Base period
2021 = 100
Indices as result of survey on prices.
Month.
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
The laws regulating the collection, treatment and dissemination of statistical data are the Commission Regulation (EU) 2019/2152 of 27 November 2019 in conjunction with Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197 as well as the German Federal Statistics Act (1987) and the law on price statistics (PreisStatG of 1958).
6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing
Data sent to Eurostat may contain confidential data to compile the European aggregate.
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
Confidentiality is guaranteed by section 16 of the Federal Statistics Act. It requires that respondents must be informed about their rights and obligations in providing statistical information. This rule is strictly followed. It also applies to the notification that individual data are only used for statistical purposes and - subject to protection procedures - for scientific purposes.
Furthermore, Chapter V “Statistical Confidentiality” of Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council applies.
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
As regards the confidentiality of data, methods of primary and secondary confidentiality checking have been developed and are being used.
8.1. Release calendar
A release calendar containing the precise release dates for the reference periods for the current year is published on the website of Destatis.
Indices are simultaneously released to all parties. The data are available at the database “GENESIS-Online” for all users at the same time.
Identification of internal government access to data before release in accordance with Principle 6.7 of the European Statistics Code of Practice: The German Central Bank gets internal access to the data one day before press release.
Data is transmitted to Eurostat one day before national dissemination.
Monthly.
10.1. Dissemination format - News release
Press releases concerning the import price index (domestic market) are published by the FSO (Federal Statistical Office). www.destatis.de> Themes > Economy > Prices > Import and export price indices Import and export price indices
Indices are also published at the time series database GENESIS-Online.
The indices are published for selected products and product groups on different levels, i.e. the national derivation of the classification of products by activity (CPA 2008) and the classification of food and industrial products (EGW 2002).
Standardized quality reports are published on the website of Destatis.
11.1. Quality assurance
The data of German official statistics enjoy a reputation of high reliability in Germany and abroad. The FSO has committed itself to assure and further enhance the level of quality already attained. In order to achieve this task – also in the ESS – the activities of the FSO are based on quality guidelines. To assure quality in the long term, the FSO applies a variety of systematic quality assurance measures, among others the European Statistics Code of Practice.
Destatis checks price reports from reporting units in terms of the completeness of reports as well as the plausibility of data provided. Furthermore, the same quality management procedures are applied to the calculated indices. Missing price reports are extrapolated with suitable methods which are further explained in section 13.3.
Additionally, import price statistics are sometimes used in stable value clauses. Thus, they are used and trusted by contracting partners.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
Major users of import price statistics are the European Commission (Eurostat) as well as the European Central Bank at the international level and the Federal Government, i.e. the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action and the Federal Ministry of Finance, the German Central Bank, and other users of import prices such as specialised associations and interest groups of various economic branches.
In addition, results of import price statistics are sometimes used for stable value clauses and are applied by relevant contracting parties. Import price indices are also internally used as they are included in the national accounts calculations of Destatis and the statistical offices of the Länder.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
Destatis conducts user satisfaction surveys in various sectors of statistics. The Statistical Advisory Committee (Statistischer Beirat) represents the interests of the users of federal statistics and regularly consults with the FSO.
Additionally, user satisfaction is measured by the number of monthly visits on specialized publications on the website of the FSO or downloads, quarterly downloads from the on-line database “GENESIS” and the number of external queries via the costumer management system.
12.3. Completeness
STS requirements according to EU regulations and national laws are fulfilled.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
Import price index figures are very rarely revised. First releases are highly reliable. Results are normally final for the respective reference month with the first release. Choosing a more recent base year leads to slight revision-related differences due to new calculation bases (i.e. basket of goods, weighting pattern, sample of reporting units).
In the case of non-response the price is estimated by well-defined compensation methods and the price representative is replaced as soon as possible.
13.2. Sampling error
Sampling errors cannot be quantified because the sample is not based on random sampling. However, the method of purposive sampling used in drawing the sample allows achieving a high degree of representativeness. It is ensured that leading companies in market segments are included in the sample.
13.3. Non-sampling error
Response of the surveyed units is obligatory. Otherwise, fines can be imposed up to EUR 5,000.
Unit non-response:
In the case of non-response (e.g. because of shut-down or restructuring of the enterprise, change in the product range, etc.) the prices are extrapolated with suitable updating indicators (e.g. average price trend of the relevant item or of a higher aggregate) and the price representative is replaced as soon as possible.
Item non-response:
This type of error especially includes incorrect or inaccurate data of the responding enterprises as well as non-response. Incorrect or inaccurate data are corrected by data editing and by direct queries with the enterprises in the current reference month. Plausibility checks focus on validating the relevant price trend.
Imputation methods:
Prices of goods which are temporarily not sold are carried forward using suitable methods.
The average size-weighted unit response rate in 2024 is 92.78%.
14.1. Timeliness
Results are published around 25 days after the end of the reference month. The prices refer to the average of the reference month.
14.2. Punctuality
All publication deadlines are met.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
Consistent time series of the recent base year are available since 1991 since Germany is covered as a whole. Earlier periods refer to the former territory of the Federal Republic of Germany only.
15.2. Comparability - over time
The Laspeyres concept applied to import price statistics is based on the principle that calculation bases are constant (basket of goods, sample of reporting units, sample of price representatives, weighting pattern). In theory, this ensures the comparability of the calculated indices within a base period.
Price indices for different base periods are often chain-linked to form long-time index series. Due to the introduction of new weighing schemes and methodological changes in the course of implementing a new base year, the long series of import price indices are comparable to a limited extent. A particular problem regarding comparability between different base periods is changes in the underlying classifications.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
There are no comparable or adequate benchmark figures which could be used to check cross domain coherence.
15.4. Coherence - internal
The import price index is internally coherent.
At Destatis 6.5 persons work on methodical preparation, conducting of the survey, processing, calculation, evaluation and publication.
17.1. Data revision - policy
The general revision policy adopted by Destatis covers routine revisions, major revisions and non-scheduled revisions. The national revision policy is the same as for Eurostat data. It can be found on the Destatis website.
As no temporary results are published, no revisions are carried out regularly (MAR (Mean Absolute Revision) = MR (Mean Revision) = 0).
The last major revision took place when year 2021 was introduced as base year which resulted in new computations of the indices. Furthermore, the samples of reporting units as well as of price representatives are fundamentally reviewed.
Users are informed about the upcoming rebasing at least three months in advance. Documentation of rebasing is further given in "Wirtschaft und Statistik". Destatis also publishes the rebased figures on its website.
Publication errors are corrected in accordance with the general Destatis policy on non-scheduled revisions which deals with publication errors.
18.1. Source data
Data on prices and values of price determining characteristics are collected via statistical surveys.
The frame on which the source is based is the foreign trade statistic.
Generally, collection of data is carried out through a targeted sample. Units with an import value of less than EUR 500,000 per year are normally excluded. The sampling method is not formalised. A judicious selection depending on the value of imports is performed.
A fundamental revision of the samples is carried out every five years. The new samples serve for rotation of respondents and permanent adjustments due to the necessity of replacements forced by changes in the market structures.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Data are collected monthly.
18.3. Data collection
Specific web-based questionnaires for statistics of import prices are used. They include a data checking process during the input process. Reporting via electronic media (internet) is obligatory. Missing responses are requested by telephone or postal reminders.
18.4. Data validation
Plausibility checks are performed on single price observations and on aggregations of price indices.
A distinction can be made at two different stages. First, the reported price must appear logic within the price series itself. At this stage, the information of the individual dataset is validated. Second, the development of the price representatives is to be considered in the framework of a larger group of similar products. At this stage, validation of individual data only takes place after all individual price reports have been received.
The price series of a basket item are compared and automatically examined by specific criteria. In the case of discretionary or obligatory errors in individual reports, specific processing is carried out by Destatis. Discretionary errors do not necessarily make processing necessary whereas obligatory errors always result in an adjustment.
18.5. Data compilation
Estimates for non-response base on imputation techniques (e.g. estimation with price evolution of similar products) which are described in more detail in section 13.3.
Estimates for grossing-up to population levels are not applicable.
The type of indices is Carli (elementary indices) and Laspeyres (aggregated indices) which is rebased in general every five years.
The method of weighting and chaining requires four stages. First, for each price representative (product at the 6- or 8-digit level of national version of CPA for one observation unit) a simple index (price relative) is compiled as a ratio of the current price and the average price in the base year. Second, for each product at the 6- or 8-digit level of national version of CPA an elementary index is compiled as an average of the simple indices compiled at stage 1 (Carli-Index). Third, elementary indices compiled at stage 2 are combined to aggregate indices up to the CPA/NACE-2-digit level using fixed weights (base year 2021). These weights represent the import share of each product. A distinction is made for imports from the euro area and the non-euro area. This information is derived from the foreign trade statistics survey of the base year.
18.6. Adjustment
No adjustment.
No further comments.
This indicator is part of the overall STS indicator system which supports business cycle observation. The import price index aims to show the development of the purchase prices of goods imported from abroad.
19 May 2025
The basic information collected is the import price excluding VAT and consumption taxes. The import price index aims to show the development of the purchase prices of goods imported from abroad. Variables, definitions and frequency of data compilation correspond with Commission Regulation (EU) 2019/2152 of 27 November 2019 in conjunction with Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197.
Observation units are enterprises and reporting units are local units for the NACE Sections defined above.
Contract prices on imports.
Country as a whole.
Month.
Import price index figures are very rarely revised. First releases are highly reliable. Results are normally final for the respective reference month with the first release. Choosing a more recent base year leads to slight revision-related differences due to new calculation bases (i.e. basket of goods, weighting pattern, sample of reporting units).
In the case of non-response the price is estimated by well-defined compensation methods and the price representative is replaced as soon as possible.
Indices as result of survey on prices.
Estimates for non-response base on imputation techniques (e.g. estimation with price evolution of similar products) which are described in more detail in section 13.3.
Estimates for grossing-up to population levels are not applicable.
The type of indices is Carli (elementary indices) and Laspeyres (aggregated indices) which is rebased in general every five years.
The method of weighting and chaining requires four stages. First, for each price representative (product at the 6- or 8-digit level of national version of CPA for one observation unit) a simple index (price relative) is compiled as a ratio of the current price and the average price in the base year. Second, for each product at the 6- or 8-digit level of national version of CPA an elementary index is compiled as an average of the simple indices compiled at stage 1 (Carli-Index). Third, elementary indices compiled at stage 2 are combined to aggregate indices up to the CPA/NACE-2-digit level using fixed weights (base year 2021). These weights represent the import share of each product. A distinction is made for imports from the euro area and the non-euro area. This information is derived from the foreign trade statistics survey of the base year.
Data on prices and values of price determining characteristics are collected via statistical surveys.
The frame on which the source is based is the foreign trade statistic.
Generally, collection of data is carried out through a targeted sample. Units with an import value of less than EUR 500,000 per year are normally excluded. The sampling method is not formalised. A judicious selection depending on the value of imports is performed.
A fundamental revision of the samples is carried out every five years. The new samples serve for rotation of respondents and permanent adjustments due to the necessity of replacements forced by changes in the market structures.
Monthly.
Results are published around 25 days after the end of the reference month. The prices refer to the average of the reference month.
Consistent time series of the recent base year are available since 1991 since Germany is covered as a whole. Earlier periods refer to the former territory of the Federal Republic of Germany only.
The Laspeyres concept applied to import price statistics is based on the principle that calculation bases are constant (basket of goods, sample of reporting units, sample of price representatives, weighting pattern). In theory, this ensures the comparability of the calculated indices within a base period.
Price indices for different base periods are often chain-linked to form long-time index series. Due to the introduction of new weighing schemes and methodological changes in the course of implementing a new base year, the long series of import price indices are comparable to a limited extent. A particular problem regarding comparability between different base periods is changes in the underlying classifications.
