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 survey covers Sections H, I, J, L, M and N of NACE Rev. 2.
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
Production index of services – an index that expresses the change in sales of services at constant prices. Different service producer price indices are used in calculating the index.
3.5. Statistical unit
Reporting unit - enterprise, observation unit - KAU, ie the combination 1 LEU = 1 ENT = 1 KAU is used.
3.6. Statistical population
The Statistical Business Register based list of active economic units which are active in the field of service. There are about 62 000 enterprises in the target population.
3.7. Reference area
The whole country is covered.
3.8. Coverage - Time
The indicator was compiled for the first time in 2020.
3.9. Base period
2021=100
Index
Monthly.
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
Regulation (EC) No 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 (Text with EEA relevance)
6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing
Data are transmitted to Eurostat.
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
The dissemination of data collected for the purpose of producing official statistics is guided by the requirements provided for in § 32, § 34, § 35, § 38 of the Official Statistics Act.
Notifications about the dissemination of statistics are published in the release calendar, which is available on the website. On 1 October each year, the release times of the Statistical Database, news releases, main indicators by IMF SDDS and publications are announced in the release calendar (in case of publications – the release month).
8.2. Release calendar access
The publication calendar of news releases and the statistical publications are available on the web site of Statistics Estonia.
8.3. Release policy - user access
All users have been granted an equal access to official statistics: this means that the dissemination dates of official statistics have to be announced in advance and no user category (incl. Eurostat, state authorities and mass media) can have access to the official statistics (results of official statistical surveys) before other users. Statistical information is first published in the Statistical Database. In case a news release is published based on the same data, the information provided in the relevant news release is simultaneously published in the Statistical Database. Official statistics are available on the website at 8.00 a.m. on the date announced in the release calendar.
Monthly.
10.1. Dissemination format - News release
Not published.
10.2. Dissemination format - Publications
Not published.
10.3. Dissemination format - online database
Data have been published under the heading “Economy/Financial statistics of enterprises“ in the Statistical Database.
10.4. Dissemination format - microdata access
The dissemination of data collected for the purpose of producing official statistics is guided by the requirements provided for in § 34, § 35, § 36, § 37, § 38 of the Official Statistics Act. Access to micro-data and anonymisation of micro-data are regulated by Statistics Estonia’s „Procedure for dissemination of confidential data for scientific purposes”.
10.5. Dissemination format - other
Data are sent to Eurostat both to be used in European aggregates as well as to be released as national data.
10.6. Documentation on methodology
A methodological description of the survey is available in the website of Statistics Estonia (ESMS metadata).
10.7. Quality management - documentation
A methodological description of the survey is available in the website of Statistics Estonia (ESMS metadata).
11.1. Quality assurance
To assure the quality of processes and products, Statistics Estonia applies the EFQM Excellence Model, EU Statistics Code of Practice and the ESS Quality Assurance Framework (QAF). Statistics Estonia is also guided by the requirements provided for in § 7. „Principles and quality criteria of producing official statistics” of the Official Statistics Act.
11.2. Quality management - assessment
Statistics Estonia performs all statistical activities according to an international model (Generic Statistical Business Process Model – GSBPM). According to the GSBPM, the final phase of statistical activities is overall evaluation using information gathered in each phase or sub-process (this information includes, among other things, feedback from users, process metadata, system metrics and suggestions from employees). This information is used to prepare the evaluation report which outlines all the quality problems related to the specific statistical activity and serves as input for improvement actions.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications,
Ministry of Finance,
Media,
Researchers and students,
Enterprises / businesses,
Internal users,
Eurostat.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
Since 1996 Statistics Estonia conducts reputation surveys and user surveys.
12.3. Completeness
In compliance with the rules (regulations).
13.1. Accuracy - overall
Service enterprises production is based on the administrative data. The population includes about 62 000 enterprises.
The data may be revised (if errors are discovered) during the year after the end of the reference period, but in general the data are final after they are first published.
13.2. Sampling error
Not measured because of the usage of administrative data.
13.3. Non-sampling error
Not measured because of the usage of administrative data.
14.1. Timeliness
The data are released 60 days upon the end of the reference month (T+60).
14.2. Punctuality
The data have been published at the time announced in the release calender.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
The data are comparable with the data of European Union Member States.
15.2. Comparability - over time
The data are comparable across time.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
Monthly indicators of service enterprises are coherent with same quarterly and yearly (SBS) indicators.
15.4. Coherence - internal
Higher level aggregations are derived from detailed data according to predefined procedures.
The assessment of cost covers the statistics for NSI as well as STS needs.
Administrative data are used; there is no administrative burden for respondents.
Cost, hours per year: Not measured
17.1. Data revision - policy
The data revision policy and notification of corrections are described in the website of Statistics Estonia.
The same revision policy is applied to data released nationally and transmitted to Eurostat.
17.2. Data revision - practice
The quality indicators used in the data revision practice are: MAR (Mean Absolute Revision) and MR (Mean Revision). The calculated values for the last 36 months (January 2023 to Dec 2025) PVS index are:
Annual growth rates for original data series (YoY) MR = 0,00% , MAR = 0,01%
Annual groth rates for calendary adjusted data series (YoY) MR = 0,00%, MAR = 0,01%.
18.1. Source data
The administrative data. Data of value added tax returns (form KMD) from the Estonian Tax and Customs Board are used. Turnover index is calculated using the indicators of value added tax returns.
Production index of services based on deflated index of service turnover. Different service producer price indices are used in calculating the index.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Monthly.
18.3. Data collection
Data are gained from Estonian Tax and Customs Board through Data Exchange Layer X-Road.
18.4. Data validation
Arithmetic and qualitative controls are used in the validation process, including comparison with the data of previous periods and other surveys.
18.5. Data compilation
The production index of services is a Laspeyres chain index. The value added from SBS Y-2 annual survey is used as weights. Weights are changed every year.
Division level indices are aggregated to section levels and to services total (H, I, J, L, M, N).
18.6. Adjustment
More information about the adjustment is found in added template.
Production index of services – an index that expresses the change in sales of services at constant prices. Different service producer price indices are used in calculating the index.
Reporting unit - enterprise, observation unit - KAU, ie the combination 1 LEU = 1 ENT = 1 KAU is used.
The Statistical Business Register based list of active economic units which are active in the field of service. There are about 62 000 enterprises in the target population.
The whole country is covered.
Monthly.
Service enterprises production is based on the administrative data. The population includes about 62 000 enterprises.
The data may be revised (if errors are discovered) during the year after the end of the reference period, but in general the data are final after they are first published.
Index
The production index of services is a Laspeyres chain index. The value added from SBS Y-2 annual survey is used as weights. Weights are changed every year.
Division level indices are aggregated to section levels and to services total (H, I, J, L, M, N).
The administrative data. Data of value added tax returns (form KMD) from the Estonian Tax and Customs Board are used. Turnover index is calculated using the indicators of value added tax returns.
Production index of services based on deflated index of service turnover. Different service producer price indices are used in calculating the index.
Monthly.
The data are released 60 days upon the end of the reference month (T+60).
The data are comparable with the data of European Union Member States.
