Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia (SURS)

Macroeconomic Statistics Division; Price Statistics Section

Litostrojska cesta 54, SI-1000 Ljubljana

The statistical survey Producer Price Indices measures the dynamics of producer prices of industrial products produced on the territory of Slovenia and sold in Slovenia and/or abroad.

The Producer Price Indices (total) is composed of two sub-indices:

• producer price index of the domestic market, which measures changes in prices of manufactured goods produced and sold by producers on the domestic (Slovene) market;
• producer price index of the non-domestic market, which measures changes in prices of manufactured goods sold by producers on non-domestic markets.

Producer prices of manufactured goods are processed and published according to the Statistical Classification of Economic Activities in the European Community (NACE Rev. 2.0).

Activities covered:

• Producer price index of the domestic market covers Sections B (excl. B0721), C (excl. C2446, C254, C301, C303 and C304), D and Division E36 of NACE Rev. 2.0.
• Producer price index of the non-domestic market covers Sections B (excl. B0721) and C (excl. C2446, C254, C301, C303 and C304) of NACE Rev. 2.0.

Main variables collected are average transaction prices for the reference period at which producers sell their most sold products on the domestic market (ex-works sale price) and / or non-domestic market (free on board sale price). Prices do not include VAT (value added tax) and similar deductible taxes and duties directly linked to turnover, whereas subsidies on products received by the producer, if there are any, are added. Prices include discounts and rebates that producers give to buyers.

The domestic producer price index for an economic activity measures the average price development of all goods resulting from that activity and sold on the domestic market. The non-domestic price index shows the average price development (expressed in the national currency) of all goods resulting from that activity and sold outside of the domestic market. When combined, these two indices show the average price development of all goods resulting from an activity.

The indices of domestic and non-domestic prices require separate producer price indices to be compiled according to the destination of the product. The destination is determined by the residency of the third party that has ordered or purchased the product. Producer prices for the non-domestic market are further subdivided into producer prices for products sold to euro area markets and non-euro area markets.

Discrepancies: Transaction prices for the reference month are reported for the period from the 16th of the previous month to the 15th of the observed month. 

Reporting unit: enterprise.

Observation unit(s): products (PRODCOM-list).

The target population comprises of enterprises and their units that according to their principal activity belong to the following sections of activities according to the NACE Rev. 2: B – Mining and quarrying, C – Manufacturing, D – Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply and E36 – Water collection, treatment and supply.

Prices for the producer price index were reported by 672 reporting units; prices of products for sale on the domestic market by 568 reporting units and on non-domestic markets by 340 reporting units.

Reference area is the whole territory of the Republic of Slovenia.

• The producer price index of manufactured goods has been calculated since 1953.
• In 2007 this index was renamed to Output price index of the domestic market. At the same time two new indices were introduced: Output price index of the non-domestic market and the Output price index (total) as a combination of the indices of the domestic and non-domestic markets.
• Data series for the producer price index - total, producer price index of the domestic market and producer price index of the non-domestic market are available from January 2000 onwards. 
• There are no breaks in time series.

2021 = 100.

Indices.

Reference period: Month.

Accounting conventions: Reporting units are asked to provide average transaction prices for the period from the 16th of the previous month to the 15th of the current month.

• Regulation (EU) 2019/2152 of the European Parliament and of the Council on European business statistics, repealing 10 legal acts in the field of business statistics (EBS-Regulation)
• Commission Implementing Regulation 2020/1197 laying down technical specifications and arrangements pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2019/2152 of the European Parliament and of the Council on European business statistics repealing 10 legal acts in the field of business statistic (General Implementing Act)
• National Statistics Act (OJ RS, No. 45/1995 and No. 9/2001)
• The Annual Programme of Statistical Surveys (OJ RS, No. 146/2022, 44/2023, 77/2023)

All non-confidential data are available on SURS website. Following a predetermined timetable, selected data are transmitted to the Eurostat. Additionally, data for the domestic producer price index are transmitted via Bank of Slovenia to the International Monetary Fund.

• National Statistics Act (OJ RS No. 45/1995 and No. 9/2001)
• Council Regulation (EC) 223/2009, Chapter V Statistical confidentiality

In order to protect business interests of reporting units, only aggregated data are published. Therefore, adjusted contents of the tables are in use (confidential data are suppressed) and certain rules are applied to protect data, such as a threshold minimum number of units.

Release dates are available in the SURS release calendar one year in advance (at the end of the year for the following year).

The release calendar can be found on SURS website: http://www.stat.si/StatWeb/en/releasecal?idp=125.

Users are informed of a data release by the release calendar. 

The data are released as a First Release published on the SURS website (Theme: Prices and Inflation -> Prices in Manufacturing and Services). Data can also be obtained in the SiStat database (Theme: Prices and Inflation -> Prices in Manufacturing and Services), via mail, phone and e-mail. 

Following the publication the data are transmitted to Eurostat. The transmission is done by use of eDAMIS using the SDMX format. Additionally, the data is transmitted via Bank of Slovenia to the International Monetary Fund and to users via e-mail. No government officials or external users have prior access to the data. 

Monthly.

A news release on Producer price indices is published monthly in accordance with the calendar at 10:30 a.m. on SURS website (Theme: Prices and inflation -> Prices in manufacturing and services). First Release is available within 26 days after the reference month.

Not available.

Data are disseminated monthly in the SiStat Database at https://pxweb.stat.si/SiStat/en. Producer price indices can be found by selecting Theme: Prices and inflation -> Prices in manufacturing and services.

The Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia (SURS) enables researchers to access data for the purpose of research.

The use of the data is according to the data sensitivity in the following ways:

• access in SURS secure room,
• remote access,
• using statistically protected microdata via Big file exchange system (SOVD).

For researcher's access to data in the secure room or via remote access, SURS prepares individual microdata databases by removing identifiers. Via Big file exchange system (SOVD), researchers receive only statistically protected microdata that are the result of some statistical surveys conducted on a small sample. SURS enables researchers to access statistically unprotected aggregated data.

The monthly indices are regularly sent to Eurostat, either to be used in European aggregates or to be released also as national data. Additionally, the data is transmitted via Bank of Slovenia to the International Monetary Fund. 

Methodological explanation is available on SURS website: https://www.stat.si/statweb/en/Methods/QuestionnairesMethodologicalExplanationsQualityReports (Theme: Prices and Inflation, Sub-Theme: Prices in Manufacturing and Services) -> Methodological explanation - Producer Price Indices

Quality documentation is available on SURS website: http://www.stat.si/StatWeb/en/mainnavigation/methods-and-classifications/quality-reports (Theme: Prices and Inflation, Sub-Theme: Prices in Manufacturing and Services). 

SURS operates on the basis of the National Statistics Act and Regulation (EC) No. 223/2009 on European statistics; in performing its tasks it follows the general principles of quality management, the European Statistics Code of Practice and the Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics. More information on quality in national statistics is available on SURS website: https://www.stat.si/StatWeb/en/FundamentalPrinciples/QualityInStat.

Producer price indices are produced in compliance with methodological requirements and standards.

Producer price index is one of the principal European economic indicators which has been identified by key users as being of prime importance for the conduct of monetary and economic policy of the euro area. Data are used by different users: Eurostat, ECB, national bank, government departments, trade unions, researchers, students, internal users (national accounts) and businesses.

The latest satisfaction survey was conducted in 2023. Respondents assessed their general satisfaction with SURS with the average score of 8.0 on a scale from 1 – disagree completely to 10 – agree completely. The score was lower than the year before (8.3 in 2022).

All statistics that are required by current Regulation (EU) 2019/2152 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 November 2019 on European business statistics, repealing 10 legal acts in the field of business statistics concerning short-term statistics are available.

The accuracy of producer price indices is considered to be good. The different processes are directed to eliminate or minimize such errors, both in the collection phase and in the subsequent editing and imputation.

Sampling error cannot be calculated because the survey is not conducted on the basis of a random sample. In order to ensure good representativeness the enterprises which play an important role on the market are included in the sample. The largest enterprises in terms of sales value (on the domestic and non-domestic markets) within an individual activity class (according to the NACE Rev. 2) are selected, so that 60-70% value of total sale in the class is achieved.

In 2023 (annual average), editing rate was lower than in the year before, while the unit non-response rate, item non-response rate and imputation rate were higher.

Overcoverage rate:

• domestic market survey: 0.54%,
• non-domestic market survey: 0.91%.

Unit non-response: SURS reminds the reporting units of their obligation via e-mail. After having received the second reminder, the units that have not yet completed the questionnaire are called. SURS has established a call center which helps the reporting units in case of lack of understanding of the questionnaire, and a list of frequently asked questions with answers is published online. However, usually there are some eligible units from which we do not succeed to obtain desired data by the deadline for data processing. 

• domestic market survey: 1.78%,
• non-domestic market survey: 0.89%.

Item non-response rate:

• domestic market survey: 2.75%,
• non-domestic market survey: 4.45%.

Editing rate:

• domestic market survey: 0.91%,
• non-domestic market survey: 1.11%.

Imputation rate:

• domestic market survey: 7.68%,
• non-domestic market survey: 13.74%.

Data are published no later than 21 days after the end of the reference month, except for January. January data are published no later than 26 days after the end of the reference month. 

In an effort to reduce time lag, reminders to submit questionaires are sent to reporting units on the 16th of the reference month. If that day is a work-free day, they are sent the next working day. Enterprises return completed forms to SURS on a monthly basis. They should be submitted by the 20th day of the reference month at the latest. Two days after the reported date reminder letters are sent to the non-respondents. There is also a telephone follow up of non-respondents. The questionnaire collection is final by the 12th of the following month.

All news releases were published according to the announced release calendar.

Survey results are based on the requirements of the EBS-Regulation, which is in use in all EU member countries. This ensures a good comparability between national data and good-quality European aggregates.

Survey results represent Slovenia as a whole (no geographical dimension).

Comparable time series are available from January 2000 on.

There is no known similar survey that could be used as a reference source for comparison.

Data are internally coherent. High level aggregations are derived from detailed indices according to well-defined procedures.

Costs of production: The number of working hours spent covers all processes done by people performing certain tasks on the project (selection of enterprises for the sample, preparation and sending of questionnaires and info letters, preparation of address lists, coverage, entry and checking of data, sending reminders and telephone reminding, data processing, preparation of the First Release, preparation of data for national and international users, etc.). The number of hours spent was 3,934 (3,528 in 2022). 

Burden on reporting units: Average time spent on completing a questionnaire for:

• domestic market survey: 21 minutes,
• non-domestic market survey: 23 minutes.

In an effort to minimize costs of production and burden on reporting units, we're developing an e-questionnaire that reporting units will complete via an online app. 

There is no revision calendar. The data are final when first released and are not subject to revision. As an exception, if errors are detected they are corrected immediately and a special revision is released with an official note commenting on the reason for it and the impact. The same revision policy is applied to data released nationally as well as to data transmitted to Eurostat.

The data are final when first released and are not subject to revision.

Revisions and methodological changes are previously discussed with the Advisory Committee for Price Statistics. Major changes in methodology are announced in advance by placing a notice in First Release. Detailed explanation of methodological changes is provided in methodological explanations on the SURS website.

MAR=0 and MR=0.

Type of source: Statistical survey.

Frame on which the source is based: Statistical Business Register of Slovenia (SPRS).

Sample: Data collection is based on a sample.

• Enterprises are selected from the Annual industry survey (Annual data on industrial production and sale) and not directly from SPRS. The list of reporting units is determined on the basis of threshold coverage (i.e. cut-off sampling). The main criteria for the selection are activity and turnover within a NACE Rev. 2 activity class. Selected are as many units as needed to achieve 60–70 % of total sales value in a particular class.
• Products are selected according to the sales value from the annual industry report using additional information from producers. From each class of NACE Rev. 2 the products with the biggest turnover on the domestic/non-domestic markets are selected. Where possible the selection of products is limited to the products of mass production.

Updating the sample: In 2021, we revised and expanded the list of products whose prices we monitor and the list of reporting units, thus improving the quality of indices. In addition, regular annual updating of the list of products or their specifications is used as the basic method to handle changes in the quality of products. In December of each year, the products that become important are added or used as replacements for products that are no longer representative. In addition, the list of reporting units for each reference year is slightly modified. During the year, we exclude those units that, for various reasons (e.g. bankruptcy, liquidation, acquisition of a business entity), ceased to produce products and we may add new producers that produce similar products. 

Monthly.

Data on prices of representative products are collected with the survey on Producer price indices (CENE-SKUPAJ/M) by the following questionnaires:

• Cene industrijskih proizvodov pri proizvajalcih za prodajo na domačem trgu (CENE-DOMA/M) to collect producer prices of products sold in the domestic market,
• Cene industrijskih proizvodov pri proizvajalcih za prodajo na tujem trgu (CENE-IZVOZ/M) to collect producer prices for products sold in the non-domestic market.

At the beginning of the reference year, each reporting unit receives an individual electronic questionnaire form (in Excel format) that includes representative products selected by reporting units themselves. Every month units enter average transaction prices for the observed period and transmit the questionnaire via the eSTAT web application. 

We're developing a web questionnaire that the reporting units will complete directly in the eSTAT web application.

In line with the guidelines and standards for communicating with reporting units on minimizing non-response and collecting the highest possible quality of data, SURS reminds the reporting units of their obligation via e-mail. Reminders to submit questionnaires are sent to reporting units on the 16th of the month. If that day is a work-free day, they are sent the next working day. Reporting units submit completed forms to SURS on a monthly basis; they should be submitted by the 20th day of the reference month at the latest. Reminder e-mails are sent to the non-responders; one two days after the deadline and a second one two days after that. After having received the second reminder, the units that have not yet completed the questionnaire are called. The questionnaire collection is final by the 11th of the following month.

SURS has established a call center which helps the reporting units in case of lack of understanding of the questionnaire, and a list of frequently asked questions with answers is published online.

Data collected by electronic questionnaires are first checked with logic controls with a computer program for data entry. Then they are manually checked by the person responsible for the survey. Reasons for price changes from previous to current month have to be explained by the reporting units on the questionnaire. If there are doubts about the reliability of the data, these data are checked once again by contacting the corresponding reporting unit and incorrect values are edited. Additional logical controls are executed when transferring data to the database. The validity of the new time point and the structure of the input file are checked.

Non-response: In order to ensure a full response for all surveyed units micro-estimates are made every month. Missing values are edited using the historical imputation method for temporarily unavailable products or mean imputation method for permanently unavailable products. This is done until December, when re-sampling is made and a product of new quality which will be produced in large amounts over a longer period of time is selected and introduced into the index.

Type of index: Laspeyres type of index is used.

1. Individual indices for each product (at the lowest level of detail = 9-digit NIP codes or 8-digit PRODCOM codes respectively) for each observation unit are compiled from prices for the current and the base month (= December of the previous year).
2. The individual product indices are aggregated into higher level indices using weights from the Annual Industrial Survey from the base year 2021 recalculated on the basis of December of the previous year.
3. The 4-digit level indices are combined using the same source weights. The weighted combination is done for all levels of national SCA (derived from NACE Rev. 2) and MIGs including an industrial total.
4. In December of each year the products that are no longer representative or are permanently unavailable are replaced with products that have become important (higher share of turnover). Also new products are introduced in December of each year on the basis of annual industry reports and proposals from the observation units.

Method of weighting and chaining: Weights are based on kind of activity unit (KAU). The main source of weights is data from The annual industrial survey (IND-L) for the year Y-2, which comprises the data on total sales on the domestic market and on non-domestic market separately by 9-digit NIP (product) headings for each enterprise as well as data on higher levels of aggregation (for example Classes, Groups, Divisions, Subsections and Sections of the SCA). In the process of preparing weights the data on sales on higher aggregation levels derived from IND-L are further recalculated to the price of the base month, namely December Y-1. Weights are updated every year.

Data are not calendar nor seasonally adjusted.

Not applicable.