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 index of services production (ISP) measures short-term changes in the production of services. It is formed by deflating the turnover index with an appropriate deflator combined from specific price indices composed by National Accounts (NA).
Turnover information is based on Tax Administration's self-assessed tax data and on Statistics Finland's (SF) sales inquiry for the largest enterprises in their respective industries. Turnover does not include value-added tax. The deflators are formed by weighting the price indices of the main and secondary products of each industry. Price data are compiled on product basis, irrespective of the main industry of the enterprise, and describe the price development of services to all end users, Business to All (BtoAll).
3.2. Classification system
NACE Rev. 2.
3.3. Coverage - sector
Sections H, I, J, L, M (excl. division 72, 75 and group 701), N and their respective divisions of NACE Rev. 2. A national release which has been public since early 2019 also features an aggregate of sections H, I, J, L, M, N, R and S.
In turnover indices used in the production of ISP: The administrative source covers all enterprises that are liable for value-added tax. The monthly sales inquiry covers around 2000 large enterprises of which about 600 belong to the services sector.
The total index of the Producer Price Indices for Services covers around 70 percent of all market services. Covarage is 85 percent when wholesale and retail trade are excluded. The Producer Price Index for Services is calculated using over 21,000 price data items collected from approximately 1,300 data suppliers. The numbers of price data items and data suppliers vary by industry. Roughly 15,000 of the price data items concern leasing of office and business premises. More information about the coverage of different price indices can be found in their respective metadata files.
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
The index of services production aims to measure developments in the volume of services production. It is obtained by removing the effect of price changes from a value index with the help of a price index (deflation).
In turnover indices used in production of ISP:
Variables in the sales inquiry include Domestic sales, Sales abroad and Of which sales of goods and services from abroad to abroad. Reference period flows during the calendar month.
Variables on administrative tax data are Domestic sales by each value-added tax rate, Sales of goods to other EU Member States, Sales of services to other EU Member States and Sales of construction services.
Price indices used in deflating ISP:
service producer price indices (SPPI)
index of wage and salary earnings
consumer price indices (CPI)
rents of dwellings
cost index of civil engineering works
deflators of sales (used in volume of sales)
3.5. Statistical unit
For turnover data, the administrative source contains legal units and the sales inquiry contains both legal units and kind-of-activity units for larger multi-industrial enterprises. Price data are compiled on product basis, irrespective of the main industry of the enterprise, and describe the price development of services to all end users, Business to All (BtoAll).
3.6. Statistical population
In turnover indices used for ISP formation, the Statistical population consists of legal units which submit Periodic tax returns to the Finnish Tax Administration and fall under NACE categories H, I, J, L, M, N. Business register is used for NACE information. The population covers approximately 255,000 enterprises and entrepreneurs. The frame is updated monthly and demographic changes, such as start-ups and the most important mergers and split-offs, are included instantly. Closures are included as soon as they are noticed, at four months delay at the latest.
The Producer Price Index for Services is calculated using over 21,000 price data items collected from approximately 1,300 data suppliers. Information on the statistical population of the price indices used in deflation can be found in their own metadata files.
3.7. Reference area
Geographical area covers the whole country including the Autonomous Region of Åland. The turnover figures also include activities carried outside Finnish territories. The largest companies are inquired monthly about the sales of goods and services from abroad to abroad. This information may contain e.g merchanting if it is reported on the financial statement of the company operating in Finland. Fully comprehensive information according to the National Accounts definition of global production has not been acquired through the sales inquiry. The quality of the turnover data for major globally active enterprises has been examined but there is no comprehensive information on its coverage. Information on the reference area of the price indices used in deflation can be found in their own metadata files.
The share of the sales of goods and services from abroad to abroad in the sales inquiry
Nace Rev. 2
The share of abroad to abroad sales
H Transportation and storage
0,5 %
I Accommodation and food service activities
0,0 %
J Information and communication
0,4 %
L Real estate activities
0,0 %
M Professional, scientific and technical activities
3,2 %
N Administrative and support service activities
0,0 %
3.8. Coverage - Time
Time series from year 2010.
3.9. Base period
Base (reference) year 2021=100.
Data is sent as indices.
Month.
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
The production of the indices is based on FRIBS/EBS (Framework Regulation Integrating Business Statistics/European Business Statistics). Information on the institutional mandates of the price indices used in deflation can be found in their own metadata files.
The turnover indices used in the production of ISP are based on the Statistics Act (280/2004) and guided by Regulation (EU) (N:o 2019/2152) of the European Parliament and of the Council on European business statistics and Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) (N:o 2020/1197) on European business statistics. The Regulation obliges Member States to produce index series on turnover data for certain industries.
The Statistics Act (280/04) is the general act for the National Statistical Service (NSS). It contains the principles for the data collection, processing, and dissemination of official statistics. The act defines the roles of statistical authorities (Statistics Finland, Customs, National Institute for Health and Welfare, and Tike, Information Centre of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry) and other authorities producing statistics. The Statistics Finland Act (48/1992) states that Statistics Finland (SF) shall provide for the general development of official statistics in collaboration with other central government authorities. The aim of the NSS is to produce official statistics, Official Statistics of Finland (OSF). European law (especially the Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on European statistics (EC) No 223/2009) applies to a large portion of OSF.
The Statistics Act requires that the primarily exploited sources for statistical purposes shall be the data accumulated in the administration of general government and the data produced as a consequence of the normal activities of employers, self-employed persons, corporations, and foundations. SF has the right to have access to these data under the Statistics Act. In addition, all public and private entities in Finland are obliged to provide SF with data on their finances, products and staff as necessary for the production of statistics. The right of SF to collect data by virtue of the obligation does not extend, however, to data that are kept confidential for reasons of international relationships, public safety, the interest of national defence, or the safety of the state. Before any data collection based on the obligation, the statistical authority must consult the respondents or their representatives about the contents, timing, collection methods, duration of storing of the data as well as about costs. Besides those data obtained directly from administrative sources data from natural persons are always collected on voluntary basis by using interviewing or mail and web surveys. In addition, the interviewees must be informed in advance in a written form. The Statistics Act stipulates that a data provider who willfully fails to provide the obligatory data or willfully provides false data shall be sentenced to a fine. Nevertheless, SF is allowed to refrain from bringing charges if the violation is regarded as minor, but in practice charges have not been filed.
6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing
The data are transmitted monthly to Eurostat.
Data sharing and coordination among data producing agencies According to the Statistics Act, data obtained by four statistical authorities may be released to other parties either if permitted by legal provisions explicitly concerning the NSS, or upon express consent of the subject of the data. As far as statistical authorities are concerned they are allowed to transmit confidential data with identifiers to each other if it is deemed necessary for the production of statistics. The same applies to the European Statistical System authorities (ESS Authorities). Co-ordination among data-producing agencies is normal practice at both specialist and top level.
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
The index of services production does not have inquiry of its own. The administrative VAT data and the sales inquiry data used in the production of service turnover indices are considered confidential as they contain unit-level information. Practices relating to price indices used in deflation are described in their own metadata files.
Confidentiality of individual reporters' data Several legal acts guarantee that individual data should be kept confidential. According to the Act on the Openness of Government Activities (621/1999) data collected for statistical purposes are confidential. The rule is not applied to the publicity of data describing the activities of central and local government authorities and production of public services or to certain data in the Register of Enterprises and Establishments. Under the Statistics Act, statistics shall be compiled so that the respondents whom they concern are not directly or indirectly identifiable. Violation of the secrecy obligation is punishable under the Penalty Code. At the EU level, similar assurances are included in Council Regulation (EC) No 223/2009. Details regarding the protection of information on private individuals are laid down in the Finnish Personal Data Act (523/1999).
The Statistics Act obliges statistics-producing authorities to inform respondents in writing or in other appropriate manner about the intended use of the data, the procedures to be used in producing the statistics, the principles governing whether the provision of data is obligatory or voluntary, the rights of the respondents, the arrangements for protecting the data, and the duration the data will be stored.
The Statistics Act allows a statistical authority to grant access to confidential data for use in scientific research or statistical surveys if statistical units cannot be identified directly from them. The right to use data may be given in compliance with a well-defined process including a written application. SF has implemented procedures to prevent disclosure of any individual data provider. It has published guidelines on how to apply the Statistics Act and the Personal Data Act, as well as guidelines on the protection of tabulated data on enterprises and individual persons. A section on data protection is included in the SF publication Quality Guidelines for Official Statistics. Micro data concerning individual persons released for scientific research are first edited to remove variables that would make it possible to directly identify individual persons such as name, address or personal identification number. Similar procedures are used with respect to sensitive information about units other than individual persons.
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
The data are treated as confidential if an enterprise regularly dominates its turnover index. Divisions 51 and 53 are not published because of dominant enterprises but are included in the calculation of Section H and higher aggregates. The data are flagged as confidential when they are sent to Eurostat.
8.1. Release calendar
The public release of the time series began in March 2019. A release schedule for the coming year is published in December as part of Statistics Finland's Release Calendar.
Indices are published simultaneously to all interested parties on the home page of the Turnover of service industries. No one has prior access to the statistics before their general release. Series are transmitted to Eurostat during the same day they are published in Finland. The transmission is done via EDAMIS web portal by using SDMX coding system.
Monthly.
10.1. Dissemination format - News release
A regular news release accompanies the most recent monthly results.
10.2. Dissemination format - Publications
A monthly publication is made available to the media and the public free of charge. The indices are published monthly on the Internet on statistics homepage.
10.3. Dissemination format - online database
Indices and revisions are published in the StatFin-databank of Statistics Finland.
original index series
working day adjusted index series
seasonally adjusted index series
trend series
annual change of the original index series, %
cumulative annual change of the original index series, %
three month moving annual change of the original index series, %
annual change of the working day adjusted index series, %
cumulative annual change of the working day adjusted index series, %
three month moving annual change of the working day adjusted index series, %
change of the seasonally adjusted index series from the previous month, %
Some of the above-mentioned data is also published as quarterly, semiannual and annual aggregates. Revisions are published from the original, working day adjusted and seasonal adjusted index series. A revision is presented as the difference between percentage point changes found in the first and the latest release.
10.4. Dissemination format - microdata access
The index of services production does not have inquiry of its own. Concerning the source statistics’ microdata, Statistics Finland's researcher services offer unit-level data, i.e. micro data, for scientific studies and statistical surveys. The conditions and rules with respect to data access can be found on the home page of the Research services.
10.5. Dissemination format - other
Data is sent monthly to Eurostat. Tailored tables and data files are provided on request for a fee.
10.6. Documentation on methodology
The documentation on methodology and sources used in preparing statistics is available on the statistics documentation page. Advance notice is given to the public on the statistics webpage when major changes are introduced in methodology, sources, and statistical techniques. In the case of major changes, briefings for the main users and press will be organized.
10.7. Quality management - documentation
The documentation on quality management is available on the Internet on the statistics documentation page. Index series are regularly compared to monthly volumes produced in NA.
Quality policy The main lines of quality management at SF are defined in the handbook Quality Guidelines for Official Statistics. There is also a group for the management of quality and processes at SF. The group reports to the DG. Statistical Methods unit takes care of methodology for quality assurance e.g. in sampling and editing-imputation process.
SF develops its activities according to the Total Quality Management principles. It has been influenced by, among other things, the European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM) excellence model, the United Nations’ Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics and Handbook of Statistical Organization, as well as the European Statistics Code of Practice. The quality criteria of OSF are harmonised with the respective criteria of the European Statistical System.
Impartiality of statistics Section 11 of the Finnish Statistics Act contains the requirement that statistics should be as reliable as possible, give a truthful picture, and make use, if possible, of uniform concepts, definitions, and classifications, as well as be timely. Similar provisions can be found in EU legislation. The Statistics Act, the Statistics Finland Act, and the Council of State Decree on Statistics Finland (1063/2002) and several other legal provisions support SF’s professional independence:
section 3 of the Statistics Finland Act decrees that the internal organisation of SF is defined in internal Rules of Procedure which are decided by SF’s Director General (DG);
section 1 of the Council of State Decree on SF gives the DG the right to manage the activities and finances of SF;
section 5 of the Council of State Decree lays down that the DG shall be appointed by the Council of State for a fixed term. The nomination is made after open competition. The Decree also gives the DG the right to appoint the staff of SF, including directors of the departments as well as other staff members unless the decision-power has been delegated in the Rules of Procedure to some other official of SF;
section 10 of the Statistics Act provides that data processing shall take place in accordance with good statistical practice and the international recommendations and procedures generally applied in the field of statistics.
Selection of sources, methodology, and modes of dissemination The selection of sources, methodology and modes of dissemination of SF statistics are decided by SF alone. According to the Statistics Act, the choice of data sources, statistical techniques, and methods of dissemination should be based on statistical considerations (Sections 3, 10, 11, and 12). There are also responsibilities regarding cost-efficiency and the response burden of data collections (Section 4).
Guidelines for staff behavior On the basis of international recommendations SF has confirmed its own Guidelines on Professional Ethics. All employees are given a copy of this handbook. An internal ethical board meets regularly and reports on its decisions and discussions on the intranet open to all staff of SF.
11.2. Quality management - assessment
Quality monitoring The top management of SF has made several self-assessments in line with the EFQM model. There have also been external audits by e.g. the EU and IMF experts. Processes are in place to monitor the quality of the statistical process and the processes of individual statistics. Quality considerations are an integral part of the planning and evaluation of the statistical program. The process owner of statistical production and it’s supporting group monitor the quality and steer the standardisation of work processes. Statistics Finland has an internal quality audit system. The main objectives are to evaluate the ways of working, methods and techniques. An audit is carried out by an audit team of experts who are external in the sense that they do not have any direct connection with the production process in question. About 8 audits are carried out yearly.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
The information is used for the follow-up and analysis of the development of business statistics in Eurostat, in the European Central Bank, in some international organizations and in Finland's public administration and regional development.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
The recommendations given by Eurostat are recognized in ISP production. Co-operation between SF and important users with regard to the relevance of statistics and the users’ needs consists of an extensive feedback system and co-operative working groups with the main users. There are regular meetings of experts in the fields of volume and price indices in SF. Users are usually also invited to participate in discussions concerning the establishment of new statistics or revisions of existing ones.
In addition, there are specific feedback systems for receiving the users’ opinions at SF. These systems consist of an anonymous feedback channel on the web, media monitoring, surveys among different user groups for the evaluation SF’s performance, user surveys, and a system for collecting and disseminating information that is strategically important for SF. Specific statistical products conduct their own user surveys and keep in regular contact with their main interest groups.
12.3. Completeness
All EBS requirements are fulfilled. The turnover indices used in the production of ISP data cover almost all entrepreneurial activity in Finland. The latest index figures may change a little due to data accumulation and changes in business reporting and accuracy of estimation. The measured variable is similar to Eurostat definitions.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
Revisions happen in most part due to the revision and lag of source statistics. Data updates over one year backwards. The mean absolute revision of the first estimate (lag of around 30 days) for annual change was 1,2 percentage points (measured in May 2025) in total production of service industries in time period January to December 2024. For each NACE Section, the mean absolute revision was:
The mean absolute revision of the first estimate for NACE sections
Nace Rev. 2
MAR-%
H Transportation and storage
1,5
I Accommodation and food service activities
2,3
J Information and communication
0,8
L Real estate activities around
1,1
M (excl. 72,75 and 701) Professional, scientific and technical activities
2,4
N Administrative and support service activities around
1,3
13.2. Sampling error
The index of services production does not have inquiry of its own. Turnover indices used in the production of ISP are formed from VAT data and from data collected from the sales inquiry. The most recent month's VAT data was introduced in April 2020 in indices published with a one and a half months delay and from the beginning of January 2024, the lag was shortened to around 30 days. In the first sampling, the coverage of the VAT turnover data is on average 40 percent, measured by the turnover of the companies. In the second sampling, the VAT data is almost completely accumulated. The sales inquiry is a cut-off sample and is kept up to date by removing closures and companies whose activity is greatly reduced. The sample is also updated with new and expanding businesses. The sample size has been minimized while still making it possible to achieve adequate coverage in terms of turnover in different industries. The accuracy of the first estimate may be reduced in some industry levels because the development of the large enterprises in the sample may differ from the rest of the population covered by the VAT data. However, due to the cut-off sampling method and the sample being quite fixed within years, the sampling error is not relevant enough to be calculated.
The average revision caused by the cut-off sample total turnover of service industries in time period January to December 2024 was 0,9 % percentage points.
The number of the companies in the sample covers 0.1-0.6 per cent depending on the top level of each industry. If measured by turnover, however, the sample covers around 38 per cent of the total turnover in the service sector. Information on the sampling errors of the price indices used in deflation can be found in their own metadata files.
The turnover coverage of the sample in the top levels of the service sector
Nace Rev. 2
Sample coverage (%)
H Transportation and storage
52
I Accommodation and food service activities
28
J Information and communication
56
L Real estate activities around
31
M Professional, scientific and technical activities
31
N Administrative and support service activities around
44
R Arts, entertainment and recreation around
41
S Other service activities around
19
13.3. Non-sampling error
The index of services production does not have inquiry of its own. The first estimates are calculated from a sample. When the first estimates are calculated the size-weighted unit response rate of the total turnover of service industries in time period January to December 2024 was 96,7 percentage. There is no item non-response. From the beginning of January 2019 time series modelling had been used for helping calculations of the indices at a lag of around 45 days. From the beginning of January 2024, the lag of time series has been shortened to around 30 days. Same modelling methods is being used for the first estimates with the shortened timetable. Time series modelling can also be used for industries in a later period if needed. More information about the used forecast methods is available on the Methodological report.
Due to accumulation of the VAT data the indices are revised for over a year. The data will be revised the most in the five latest months after the first publication. The first time (lag of around 30 days) VAT data is received the coverage is approximately 40 per cent and the second time (lag of around 60 days) approximately 99 per cent in terms of business turnover. The turnover used from VAT data does not fully correlate the turnover with the Accounting Act since it may contain for example fixed asset sales, other income and extraordinary items. The data may also contain for example optical reading errors or human errors in filling the forms. Because of the coverage of the data used the statistical method is considered nearly unbiased.
The two most recent months in the turnover series are supplemented by an imputation of the missing data. The imputation is conducted on a legal unit level. The imputation may not perform well for the legal units with abnormal observations or when there are significant changes in business cycle. Due to the uncertainty of the used imputation method, there might be occasional revisions in the series at various industry levels.
Extrapolation of the most recent months has to be made for some of the price indices because they are not available at the time of the production of ISP. Linear interpolation is used to form monthly price indices from quarterly indices between January 2010 and December 2019. Starting from data for January 2020, monthly price data are used instead. Also, revisions made to input-output tables may case revisions to ISP.
14.1. Timeliness
The monthly publication of indices at NACE 2-digit level are published nationally and disseminated to Eurostat with a delay of around 30 days.
14.2. Punctuality
National publication and Eurostat deliveries were always on time (2024).
15.1. Comparability - geographical
Indices cover the whole country, including the Autonomous Region of Åland, and are comparable geographically.
15.2. Comparability - over time
Time series all begin in 2010 and are comparable over time.
Linear interpolations of the quarterly data of the Producer Price indices for Services are used for deflating turnover between January 2010 and December 2019. Starting from data for January 2020, monthly price data are used instead. The change has no significant effect on the image of economic development in any industry.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
Comparisons are made once a year between the annual data from NA and with SBS data. The index of services production aims to represent the development of the production of the industry and thus it cannot straightforwardly be compared to gross value added in NA and SBS. Sources of differences between statistics are as follows:
Separate purposes of use of statistics The differences of the statistics are caused by the length of their description period, by the publication delay and scope of the data content. For STS statistics the description period and publication delay are shorter and their data content smaller than of Structural business and financial statement statistics. The annual statistics represent a cross section on the entrepreneurship of the year in question. In STS statistics, the information has been temporally made comparable for company restructuring and for example for branch transfers in order for the indicators to represent the economic development of each industry at the time. The annual statistics are completed from the ending of the examination year on about one year’s delay. The advance figures are completed on the delay of about half a year.
Calendar year vs. the accounting period The turnover information of the Structural business and financial statement statistics are in accordance with the profit and loss account although with the practitioners the turnover consists of the yield of the profession. The turnover information is in these statistics from the accounting periods of enterprises which does not always correspond to the calendar year. While compiling the turnover index the sales are instead set on each calendar month irrespective of the accounting period. In the annual statistics accounting periods are fixed to that year where the period ends.
Some differences are likely to remain because of differences in statistical units used.
15.4. Coherence - internal
The time series are internally coherent in time.
Restricted from publication
17.1. Data revision - policy
Revisions are possible particularly during the first five months after publication. Administrative tax data is monthly for enterprises whose annual turnover is more than EUR 100,000, quarterly for enterprises whose annual turnover is EUR 30,000 - 100,000 and yearly for enterprises whose annual turnover is less than EUR 30,000. The reporting units should file their declarations to the tax authorities within 1 month and 12 days from the end of the reference period. Statistics Finland receives the preliminary VAT data within 20 days after the end of the reference period. The sales inquiry of Statistic Finland collects sales data monthly from the biggest enterprises in each industry. The inquiry starts in the beginning of each month concerning the past month. The first deadline of the inquiry is approximately the 15th day of each month. Timelines of the price indices used in deflation can be found in their own metadata files.
All revisions caused by data accumulation or by corrections in/to the data used are applied immediately. The same revision policy is applied nationally and in transmissions to Eurostat. More detailed explanation can be found on the web page practices when changes occur to statistical data.
Comparisons are made once a year between STS and SBS data. See more in part 15.3 of this metadata report. Classification changes introduce regular revisions and are taken into account once a year on one year delay when the Business register is final for the described year.
17.2. Data revision - practice
The index of services production does not have inquiry of its own. Due to the accumulation of the used tax data, the turnover indices are revised for over a year. The data will be revised the most in the five latest months after the first publication. The data may also contain, for example, optical reading errors or human errors in filling the forms. Because of the coverage of the data used, the statistical method is considered nearly unbiased.
The first turnover index estimates are calculated from a sample using nowcast models. Extrapolation of the most recent months is made for some of the price indices because they are not available in time. Also, revisions made to input-output tables may cause ISP revisions.
Revised figures are published monthly according to the changes in data, but not announced as such. Methodological changes, errors in the newest release and the outstandingly significant revisions are announced at the time of change. Errors are corrected immediately. An annual overhaul of seasonal adjustment models is carried out monthly. Follow-up of revisions is available for public within every release and in the StatFin-databank of turnover of service industries.
The revisions have been calculated from the period 2021-2023, when the delay of the statistic was 45 days. The Mean Absolute Revision (MAR) and Mean Revision (MR) of year-on-year growth rates for unadjusted and calendar adjusted data are:
unadjusted MAR = 0,9 %
unadjusted MR = -0,8 %
calendar adjusted MAR = 1,1 %
calendar adjusted MR = -1,0 %
From the beginning of January 2024, the lag of time series has been shortened to around 30 days. The latest Mean Absolute Revision (MAR) and Mean Revision (MR) of year-on-year growth rates for unadjusted and calendar adjusted for the year 2024 (calculated in 5/2025) alone were:
unadjusted MAR = 1,2 %
unadjusted MR = 0,9 %
calendar adjusted MAR = 1,1 %
calendar adjusted MR = 0,9 %
18.1. Source data
The index of services production does not have inquiry of its own. The turnover indices used in the production of ISP are based on Administrative tax data and are complemented by a statistical survey of the largest enterprises in each industry (cut-off sample). The producer price indices for services used as deflators are composed by NA. They are compiled on product basis, irrespective of the main industry of the enterprise, and describe the price development of services to all end users, Business to All (BtoAll).
Imputation is used for the part of the data that is missing. Unit non response is corrected by following one of five simple imputation rules, and imputed values are then included into calculations only when the individual imputation can be considered as reliable.
The turnover and price indices used in ISP formation are predicted for the most recent month.
In the first sampling, the coverage of the turnover VAT data is on average of 40 percent, measured by the turnover of the companies. In the second sampling, the data is almost completely accumulated.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
The index of services production does not collect data of its own. Administrative tax data is collected monthly for enterprises whose annual turnover is more than EUR 100,000, quarterly for enterprises whose annual turnover is EUR 30,000 - 100,000 and yearly for enterprises whose annual turnover is less than EUR 30,000. The reporting units should file their declarations to the tax authorities within 1 month and 12 days from the end of the reference period. Statistics Finland receives the preliminary VAT data within 20 days after the end of the reference period. Statistics Finland receives the data within 1 month and 20 days after the end of the reference period. The sales inquiry of Statistics Finland collects sales data monthly. The inquiry starts in the beginning of each month concerning the past month. The first deadline of the inquiry is approximately the 15th day of each month. Price data collection is described in its own metadata file.
18.3. Data collection
A web questionnaire is used to collect the sales inquiry data. E-mail reminders are sent twice and thereafter the remaining non respondents are contacted by phone. Information of the data collection of the price indices used in deflation can be found in their own metadata files.
18.4. Data validation
Data validation is done for the source statistics during their own production processes. The production system of the volume indices contains information about the stage of data validation the source statistics are in. Concerning turnover indicators, the production system of volume indices has information whether the turnover indices are ready for publication or not. For securing the quality, price indices are not brought into the system unless they are ready to be published.
Once turnover and price indices are available, volume indices are calculated. All the individual time series for each section are visually validated one by one. If the results seem unusual or there are major revisions, the issue is investigated further, and corrections are made if needed.
18.5. Data compilation
Type of index: The index of services production is a Laspeyres chain-index. The chaining is done using the Annual overlap method. The volume index is formed deflating turnover indices with suitable deflators for the industries. The deflators are formed from a combination of price indices using information from NA’s input-output tables.
Data editing: Data editing is done in source statistics.
Estimates for non-response: Imputations are made for turnover indices by 5 simple methods for the latest and the second latest month. Note that only the most reliable values are taken into account. From the beginning of January 2019 time series modelling has been used for helping calculations of the indices at a lag of around 45 days. From the beginning of January 2024, the lag of time series has been shortened to around 30 days. Same modelling methods is being used for the first estimates with the shortened timetable. Indirect method is used to produce the aggregate indices to ensure consistency. Time series modelling can also be used for industries in a later period if needed. More information about forecast methods is available on the Methodological report. Information about the non-response treatments of the price indices used in deflation can be found in their own metadata files.
Method of weighting: Division level indices are aggregated to section levels and to services total (H, I, J, L, M, N) level using gross value added weights from local-kind-of-activity level from SBS. Weights are changed annually and weight information concerning the previous year of the reference year is used if possible. The base year of the index is changed every five years but other years can exceptionally be used as a base year as well.
18.6. Adjustment
Gross, working day adjusted, seasonally adjusted and trend series with TRAMO/SEATS-method. The index of services production follows a similar seasonal adjustment template as the index of services turnover (see Annex: Service production metadata template 2023).
the automated approach is used for all series
series not performing well are modeled manually useing JDemetra+ 2.2.5
partial concurrent adjustment with last outliers is applied
The index of services production (ISP) measures short-term changes in the production of services. It is formed by deflating the turnover index with an appropriate deflator combined from specific price indices composed by National Accounts (NA).
Turnover information is based on Tax Administration's self-assessed tax data and on Statistics Finland's (SF) sales inquiry for the largest enterprises in their respective industries. Turnover does not include value-added tax. The deflators are formed by weighting the price indices of the main and secondary products of each industry. Price data are compiled on product basis, irrespective of the main industry of the enterprise, and describe the price development of services to all end users, Business to All (BtoAll).
2 June 2025
The index of services production aims to measure developments in the volume of services production. It is obtained by removing the effect of price changes from a value index with the help of a price index (deflation).
In turnover indices used in production of ISP:
Variables in the sales inquiry include Domestic sales, Sales abroad and Of which sales of goods and services from abroad to abroad. Reference period flows during the calendar month.
Variables on administrative tax data are Domestic sales by each value-added tax rate, Sales of goods to other EU Member States, Sales of services to other EU Member States and Sales of construction services.
Price indices used in deflating ISP:
service producer price indices (SPPI)
index of wage and salary earnings
consumer price indices (CPI)
rents of dwellings
cost index of civil engineering works
deflators of sales (used in volume of sales)
For turnover data, the administrative source contains legal units and the sales inquiry contains both legal units and kind-of-activity units for larger multi-industrial enterprises. Price data are compiled on product basis, irrespective of the main industry of the enterprise, and describe the price development of services to all end users, Business to All (BtoAll).
In turnover indices used for ISP formation, the Statistical population consists of legal units which submit Periodic tax returns to the Finnish Tax Administration and fall under NACE categories H, I, J, L, M, N. Business register is used for NACE information. The population covers approximately 255,000 enterprises and entrepreneurs. The frame is updated monthly and demographic changes, such as start-ups and the most important mergers and split-offs, are included instantly. Closures are included as soon as they are noticed, at four months delay at the latest.
The Producer Price Index for Services is calculated using over 21,000 price data items collected from approximately 1,300 data suppliers. Information on the statistical population of the price indices used in deflation can be found in their own metadata files.
Geographical area covers the whole country including the Autonomous Region of Åland. The turnover figures also include activities carried outside Finnish territories. The largest companies are inquired monthly about the sales of goods and services from abroad to abroad. This information may contain e.g merchanting if it is reported on the financial statement of the company operating in Finland. Fully comprehensive information according to the National Accounts definition of global production has not been acquired through the sales inquiry. The quality of the turnover data for major globally active enterprises has been examined but there is no comprehensive information on its coverage. Information on the reference area of the price indices used in deflation can be found in their own metadata files.
The share of the sales of goods and services from abroad to abroad in the sales inquiry
Nace Rev. 2
The share of abroad to abroad sales
H Transportation and storage
0,5 %
I Accommodation and food service activities
0,0 %
J Information and communication
0,4 %
L Real estate activities
0,0 %
M Professional, scientific and technical activities
3,2 %
N Administrative and support service activities
0,0 %
Month.
Revisions happen in most part due to the revision and lag of source statistics. Data updates over one year backwards. The mean absolute revision of the first estimate (lag of around 30 days) for annual change was 1,2 percentage points (measured in May 2025) in total production of service industries in time period January to December 2024. For each NACE Section, the mean absolute revision was:
The mean absolute revision of the first estimate for NACE sections
Nace Rev. 2
MAR-%
H Transportation and storage
1,5
I Accommodation and food service activities
2,3
J Information and communication
0,8
L Real estate activities around
1,1
M (excl. 72,75 and 701) Professional, scientific and technical activities
2,4
N Administrative and support service activities around
1,3
Data is sent as indices.
Type of index: The index of services production is a Laspeyres chain-index. The chaining is done using the Annual overlap method. The volume index is formed deflating turnover indices with suitable deflators for the industries. The deflators are formed from a combination of price indices using information from NA’s input-output tables.
Data editing: Data editing is done in source statistics.
Estimates for non-response: Imputations are made for turnover indices by 5 simple methods for the latest and the second latest month. Note that only the most reliable values are taken into account. From the beginning of January 2019 time series modelling has been used for helping calculations of the indices at a lag of around 45 days. From the beginning of January 2024, the lag of time series has been shortened to around 30 days. Same modelling methods is being used for the first estimates with the shortened timetable. Indirect method is used to produce the aggregate indices to ensure consistency. Time series modelling can also be used for industries in a later period if needed. More information about forecast methods is available on the Methodological report. Information about the non-response treatments of the price indices used in deflation can be found in their own metadata files.
Method of weighting: Division level indices are aggregated to section levels and to services total (H, I, J, L, M, N) level using gross value added weights from local-kind-of-activity level from SBS. Weights are changed annually and weight information concerning the previous year of the reference year is used if possible. The base year of the index is changed every five years but other years can exceptionally be used as a base year as well.
The index of services production does not have inquiry of its own. The turnover indices used in the production of ISP are based on Administrative tax data and are complemented by a statistical survey of the largest enterprises in each industry (cut-off sample). The producer price indices for services used as deflators are composed by NA. They are compiled on product basis, irrespective of the main industry of the enterprise, and describe the price development of services to all end users, Business to All (BtoAll).
Imputation is used for the part of the data that is missing. Unit non response is corrected by following one of five simple imputation rules, and imputed values are then included into calculations only when the individual imputation can be considered as reliable.
The turnover and price indices used in ISP formation are predicted for the most recent month.
In the first sampling, the coverage of the turnover VAT data is on average of 40 percent, measured by the turnover of the companies. In the second sampling, the data is almost completely accumulated.
Monthly.
The monthly publication of indices at NACE 2-digit level are published nationally and disseminated to Eurostat with a delay of around 30 days.
Indices cover the whole country, including the Autonomous Region of Åland, and are comparable geographically.
Time series all begin in 2010 and are comparable over time.
Linear interpolations of the quarterly data of the Producer Price indices for Services are used for deflating turnover between January 2010 and December 2019. Starting from data for January 2020, monthly price data are used instead. The change has no significant effect on the image of economic development in any industry.
