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.
Contact for quality reporting email: parise@istat.it
1.7. Contact phone number
Confidential because of GDPR
1.8. Contact fax number
Confidential because of GDPR
2.1. Metadata last certified
13 June 2025
2.2. Metadata last posted
13 June 2025
2.3. Metadata last update
13 June 2025
3.1. Data description
Monthly Production (index) calculated using:
1) Results of monthly survey on turnover of Services - indicator net turnover;
2) Deflators: services production price indices (SPPI), harmonised consumer price indices (HCPI), producer price indices (PPI), house price indices (H1);
3) Weights: net turnover, value added (official weightying system).
3.2. Classification system
NACE Rev. 2.
3.3. Coverage - sector
NACE Rev. 2 Sections H, I, J, L, M (excluding 70.1, 72, 75), N. Enterprises with more than 2 employees are covered. For groups 49.1, 49.2 and division 52 enterprises with more than 5 employees are covered.
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
Detailed definition of indicator can be found in the Commission Implementing Regulation 2020/1197
The Index of Service Production measures the volume of sales for selected activities and is derived from turnover at current prices, converted into constant prices. In order to measure changes in the volume of gross output, is used the added value given from the official weighting system.
Turnover includes market sales of goods or services supplied to third parties. Turnover also includes all other charges linked to the buyer, even if listed separately on the invoice. Turnover excludes VAT and other similar deductible taxes directly linked to turnover as well as all duties and taxes on the goods or services invoiced by the unit. Reduction in prices and discounts must be deducted. The sale for loan is registered in the month of invoicing.
The deflation of turnover in services is carried out dividing the turnover by appropriate deflators.
3.5. Statistical unit
The observation unit is the enterprise. Some major enterprises are observed at a more detailed level, i.e. at the level of kind of activity units (KAU). These enterprises divide their turnover among main and one or more secondary activities, which is then included in suitable activity.The observation unit is the kind of activity units (KAU). In most cases KAU coincides with the enterprise (legal unit), except for some major enterprises. These enterprises break down their turnover among main and one or more secondary activities, which is then included in suitable activity.
3.6. Statistical population
The population of enterprises belonging to the economic activities of NACE Rev. 2 Sections H, I, J, L, M (excluding 70.1, 72, 75), N.
The frame for identifying units for the population is the Business Register (Archivio Statistico delle Imprese Attive - ASIA).
3.7. Reference area
Italy - The whole national territory.
3.8. Coverage - Time
The data are available from January 2021.
3.9. Base period
Starting from april 2024, indices are in base 2021=100 according to Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2021/1003 granting derogations to certain Member States with respect to the transmission of statistics pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2019/2152 of the European Parliament and of the Council and Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197.
Indices
Month
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
Legal basis:
National level:
This is one of the mandatory surveys fixed every year by a Decree of the President of the Republic (D.P.R.).
European level:
The legal basis for the STS indicators are the 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) and the Commission Implementing Regulation 2020/1197 ANNEX VII laying down technical specifications and arrangements pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2019/2152 (General Implementing Act). Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2021/1003 granting derogations to certain Member States with respect to the transmission of statistics pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2019/2152 of the European Parliament and of the Council and Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197.
6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing
Data are sent only to Eurostat (not to other international organizations).
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
Several national legal acts guarantee the confidentiality of data requested for statistical purposes. According to art. 9, paragraph 1 of the Legislative Decree n. 322 of 1989, personal data can only be disseminated in aggregate form, in order to make it impossible to identify individuals, and can only be used for statistical purposes. Legislative Decree n. 322 of 1989, art. 6 bis and Legislative Decree n. 196 of 2003 Annex A3 (Code of conduct and professional practice applying to the processing of personal data for statistical and scientific research purposes within the framework of the National Statistical System), art. 8, provide that the exchange of personal data within the National Statistical System (Sistan) is possible if it is necessary to fulfil requirements provided by the National Statistical Programme or to allow the pursuit of institutional purposes. The supply of the identification data of statistical units is allowed within the framework of entities included in the National Statistical System if the requesting party declares that no identical statistical result can be obtained otherwise. Regarding subjects who do not belong to Sistan, Article. 7 of the Code of conduct (Decree n. 196/2003, Annex A3) states that it is possible to transmit individual data files without direct identifiers within the framework of specific laboratories set up by entities included in the National Statistical System, under certain conditions and only if that the data are protected by the application of statistical methods that make it highly unlikely the identification of statistical units.
Links to relevant legal acts on statistics are also listed on the website of Sistan - National Statistical System - SISTAN
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
There are no confidentiality issues at the present time.
8.1. Release calendar
Every year in December Istat publishes a release calendar providing the precise release dates for the coming year. The calendar is distributed to the press and is available free of charge to interested parties.
8.2. Release calendar access
The press calendar is also disseminated on the Istat web site.
8.3. Release policy - user access
Data are released simultaneously to all interested parties by issuing the press release "Fatturato dei servizi" published on the Italian National Institute of Statistics website. Time series are available on IstatData database. No pre-release access is granted. Data are sent to Eurostat via Edamis within 60 days from the end of the reference month.
Monthly press releases are disseminated as provisional at about 60 days after the end of the reference month. Final data are released 90 days after the end of the reference month.
10.1. Dissemination format - News release
Data releases 'Turnover in industry and services' are published on Istat website according to a prefixed annual release calendar, published by the previous December. Turnover in industry and services is a monthly press release with graphs and tables that ease the data analysis; a short text explains recent evolution for the phenomenon. The ¿Methodological note¿, wich includes methodological information, is attached to the press release referred to January 2024.
10.2. Dissemination format - Publications
Data are also disseminated through the statistical yearbook: "Annuario Statistico Italiano" (ASI) - Italian Statistical Yearbook.
10.3. Dissemination format - online database
Data are disseminated in Istat database (IstatData), theme Services, data set Indexes of turnover in other services.
The on-line database IstatData is open and free, statistics are organised by theme in a two-level hierarchical tree. Data are disseminated in the aggregate form in multidimensional tables; acting on variables, reference periods and the arrangement of heads and sides users can create custom tables and graphs. Datasets can be searched by keyword, theme and region.A wide range of standard metadata facilitates the retrieval and understanding of statistics by users.
10.4. Dissemination format - microdata access
Not available.
10.5. Dissemination format - other
Data transmitted to Eurostat via Edamis.
10.6. Documentation on methodology
The methodology and characteristics of the survey are described in the technical explanatory note which is regularly updated and attached to the quarterly press release. Concerning indexes with base 2021, further details can be found in the Nota informativa available on Istat¿s website.
10.7. Quality management - documentation
Information about procedures applied for quality management and assessment are available in the document "Quality Guidelines for Statistical Processes" - December 2012 The Istat Information system on quality of statistical production processes SIQual contains information on the execution on Istat statistical production processes and on activities developed to guarantee quality of the produced statistical information.
Since the 90s Istat adopted a systematic approach to ensure quality in both statistical information and service to the community. For this purpose the Institute has defined a quality policy providing itself with appropriate tools as well as management changes to carry it out. Istat quality policy is coherent with the European framework developed by Eurostat, taking up its main principles and definitions. In 2005, the European Statistics Code of Practice (revised in 2011) established the principles to follow in order to ensure and strengthen both accountability and governance of the European Statistical System and the National Statistical Systems inside it. Essential points of Istat quality policy are: Process quality consisting in the production of accurate statistical information efficiently and effectively; Product quality consisting in the dissemination of high-quality timely statistical data which are relevant for the users, also the potential ones; Documentation consisting in the storage and availability of information necessary not only for a proper use of data but also to ensure transparency in all the production activities of statistical data; Respect for respondents consisting in the reduction of response burden and in the respect of respondent's privacy; Strengthening of statistical literacy: consisting in promoting a proper use of statistical information in policy-making to better support decisions and policies; Users' orientation consisting in making statistical information easily accessible and understandable and in satisfying user needs as much as possible.
11.2. Quality management - assessment
In 2010 this survey was submitted to an audit on quality in a testing phase.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
Main users turnover sales index are:
Institutions: Covernment Departments, ECB, National Central Banks, International Organisations, etc.
Social actors: employers' organisations, trade unions, lobby groups, etc.
Media
Researchers & students
Enterprises/businesses
Internal users
Eurostat
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
Not available
12.3. Completeness
European requirements are fulfilled.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
Sampling units are selected according to two different approaches. In sectors in which few large businesses determine the market dynamic (50 - Maritime and water transport. 51 - Air transport. 53 - Postal services and courier activities. 61 - Telecomunications and 78 - Research. selection and supply of personnel) cut-off type sampling schemes of unit selection are adopted. The largest businesses in terms of number of persons employed and turnover are selected, up to covering a sufficiently high amount (usually greater than 80%) of the total turnover of the sector. For the remaining sectors, appropriate thresholds are detected based on number of persons employed and then enterprises are selected from the subpopulations identified. A stratified simple random sampling design is chosen using as stratification variables the economic activity (at group level. 3 digits of the NACE Rev.2 classification) and business size (in terms of persons employed and turnover classes).
Once a year part of the sample is refreshed, in order to reduce burden on respondents, to guarantee a good level for coverage and to take into account of the business demography.
13.2. Sampling error
The sampling error for the sampled subpopulation is measured in terms of coefficient of variation and is set equal to 3% for all the estimates domain except for division 55 where is equal to 5%.
13.3. Non-sampling error
Non-responding enterprises are contacted by email reminders. The most important enterprises in terms of turnover are contacted by telephone.
Non-sampling errors are reduced or eliminated in the collection phase both using an electronic questionnaire that helps debugging and aiming at an increase of the response rate of enterprises.
14.1. Timeliness
Monthly press releases are disseminated as provisional 60 days after the end of the reference period. Final data are released 90 days after the end of the reference period. Data are transmitted to Eurostat 60 days after the end of the reference period.
14.2. Punctuality
Both European and national releases are in accordance with deadlines, according to the designated timelines for dissemination.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
Not available
15.2. Comparability - over time
Data on main aggregates are comparable since January 2021.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
Dissemination of information that support statistical cross-checks and provide assurance of reasonableness are not available.The estim ated levels of turnover and number of persons employed coming from the survey are compared with those provided by Structural Business Statistics.
15.4. Coherence - internal
Internal coherence between aggregates is verified.
The cost estimate is compiled in terms of total number of hours worked (THW). It is equal to the product of three terms: (total) Annual Working Days (AWD), (total) Hours Worked per Day (HWD), Number of Persons involved in the Survey (NPS).
AWD
HWD
NPS
Cost estimate (THW)
220
7.12
4,5
7,049
17.1. Data revision - policy
Ordinary revisions:
1) Monthly revision: indices referred to month q are revised after one month when indices referred to month q+1 are released. Data are revised in order to take into account:
a) late respondents (estimated values for missing responses are replaced by reported figures) and correction from respondents;
b) availability of deflators for an appropriate period (SPPI, H1 revisions up to q+6);
c) revision of the published data, using the seasonal adjustment method.
2) Once a year indices are revised in order to take into account:
a) late respondents/corrections from respondents;
b) corporate events (merger, split-up, etc.);
c) updating of business registers;
d) availability of deflators for an appropriate period;
e) revision of the published data, using the seasonal adjustment method.
Extraordinary revisions: Performed every five years, when of a new base year is introduced. It take into account new weighting systems and sample adjustments.
The same revision policy is applied for both Nationally and Eurostat data.
17.2. Data revision - practice
The data are provisional at the time of the Press Release in which they are reported. Generally, major changes in methodology, sources and statistical techniques are announced in ad hoc publications.
Advance notification of methodological changes is also provided through seminars and papers disseminated throughout the scientific community. Monthly revisions (routine revisions) are also scheduled and concern both indices transmitted to Eurostat and indices released nationally. The Mean Revision (MR), the Mean Absolute Revision (MAR) and the RMAR (Relative Mean Absolute Revision) indicators are here reported for the unadjusted FAS monthly percentage changes and the seasonally adjusted FAS percentage changes. These indicators refer to 12 values for monthly data.
Unadjusted
Period
MR
MAR
RMAR
MAXAR
2024
-0.24
0.392
17.2%
0.8
Seasonally adjusted
Period
MR
MAR
RMAR
MAXAR
2024
-0.208
0.258
22.1%
0.7
18.1. Source data
The turnover service sectors (H_N) is collected throught the monthly Statistical survey.
The deflation is carried out dividing the turnover, at Division level of Nace Rev.2 (2-digit), by appropriate price indices (SPPI, PPI, HCPI, H1). Quarterly price indices, not available monthly, are forcasted and interpolated in order to have monthly deflators.
The frame on which the source is based is business register managed and yearly updated by Istat (Archivio Statistico delle Imprese Attive - ASIA).
The surveys for Divisions 50, 51, 53 and 61 are carried out on the basis of a non-random sample, selecting the enterprises in order to have a turnover coverage of about 80-90%. For other divisions a stratified sample is selected. The overall sample size is about 25,000 enterprises. Two criteria for stratification are taken into account: economic activity (Division or Group) and size of the enterprise (number of employees).The threshold is given by number of persons employed classes: 2-4; 5-19; 20-99; 100 and more. At the beginning of every year the samples of the surveys are updated to manage panel attrition.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
The data are collected monthly.
18.3. Data collection
Self-administered data collection via electronic transmission, data are collected through a web portal called Portale Imprese. Respondents need to login for insert data in the web questionnaire.
18.4. Data validation
Every questionnaire is checked during data entry; every variable is checked through a comparison with past values according to a coherence criterion. Outlier observations are identified: a) for most of the divisions according to the analysis of individual time series; b) for the other indicators, on the basis of the Hidiroglou-Berthelot method (based on quartiles of the empirical frequency distribution) and a macro-editing technique.
18.5. Data compilation
Non responses are estimated at micro-level by modelling.
For the probabilistic sample surveys the results are grossed up using sample final weights applied to each respondent unit in each estimation domain. Final weights are obtained multiplying the inverse of inclusion probabilities by a unit non-response correction factor. The index is calculated by Laspeyres formula with fixed base (2021=100). For all indicators a weight system is derived from the Structural Business Statistics for the base year.
18.6. Adjustment
The seasonally adjusted data (Tramo/Seats procedure) are released for the longer series available.
1) Results of monthly survey on turnover of Services - indicator net turnover;
2) Deflators: services production price indices (SPPI), harmonised consumer price indices (HCPI), producer price indices (PPI), house price indices (H1);
3) Weights: net turnover, value added (official weightying system).
13 June 2025
Detailed definition of indicator can be found in the Commission Implementing Regulation 2020/1197
The Index of Service Production measures the volume of sales for selected activities and is derived from turnover at current prices, converted into constant prices. In order to measure changes in the volume of gross output, is used the added value given from the official weighting system.
Turnover includes market sales of goods or services supplied to third parties. Turnover also includes all other charges linked to the buyer, even if listed separately on the invoice. Turnover excludes VAT and other similar deductible taxes directly linked to turnover as well as all duties and taxes on the goods or services invoiced by the unit. Reduction in prices and discounts must be deducted. The sale for loan is registered in the month of invoicing.
The deflation of turnover in services is carried out dividing the turnover by appropriate deflators.
The observation unit is the enterprise. Some major enterprises are observed at a more detailed level, i.e. at the level of kind of activity units (KAU). These enterprises divide their turnover among main and one or more secondary activities, which is then included in suitable activity.The observation unit is the kind of activity units (KAU). In most cases KAU coincides with the enterprise (legal unit), except for some major enterprises. These enterprises break down their turnover among main and one or more secondary activities, which is then included in suitable activity.
The population of enterprises belonging to the economic activities of NACE Rev. 2 Sections H, I, J, L, M (excluding 70.1, 72, 75), N.
The frame for identifying units for the population is the Business Register (Archivio Statistico delle Imprese Attive - ASIA).
Italy - The whole national territory.
Month
Sampling units are selected according to two different approaches. In sectors in which few large businesses determine the market dynamic (50 - Maritime and water transport. 51 - Air transport. 53 - Postal services and courier activities. 61 - Telecomunications and 78 - Research. selection and supply of personnel) cut-off type sampling schemes of unit selection are adopted. The largest businesses in terms of number of persons employed and turnover are selected, up to covering a sufficiently high amount (usually greater than 80%) of the total turnover of the sector. For the remaining sectors, appropriate thresholds are detected based on number of persons employed and then enterprises are selected from the subpopulations identified. A stratified simple random sampling design is chosen using as stratification variables the economic activity (at group level. 3 digits of the NACE Rev.2 classification) and business size (in terms of persons employed and turnover classes).
Once a year part of the sample is refreshed, in order to reduce burden on respondents, to guarantee a good level for coverage and to take into account of the business demography.
Indices
Non responses are estimated at micro-level by modelling.
For the probabilistic sample surveys the results are grossed up using sample final weights applied to each respondent unit in each estimation domain. Final weights are obtained multiplying the inverse of inclusion probabilities by a unit non-response correction factor. The index is calculated by Laspeyres formula with fixed base (2021=100). For all indicators a weight system is derived from the Structural Business Statistics for the base year.
The turnover service sectors (H_N) is collected throught the monthly Statistical survey.
The deflation is carried out dividing the turnover, at Division level of Nace Rev.2 (2-digit), by appropriate price indices (SPPI, PPI, HCPI, H1). Quarterly price indices, not available monthly, are forcasted and interpolated in order to have monthly deflators.
The frame on which the source is based is business register managed and yearly updated by Istat (Archivio Statistico delle Imprese Attive - ASIA).
The surveys for Divisions 50, 51, 53 and 61 are carried out on the basis of a non-random sample, selecting the enterprises in order to have a turnover coverage of about 80-90%. For other divisions a stratified sample is selected. The overall sample size is about 25,000 enterprises. Two criteria for stratification are taken into account: economic activity (Division or Group) and size of the enterprise (number of employees).The threshold is given by number of persons employed classes: 2-4; 5-19; 20-99; 100 and more. At the beginning of every year the samples of the surveys are updated to manage panel attrition.
Monthly press releases are disseminated as provisional at about 60 days after the end of the reference month. Final data are released 90 days after the end of the reference month.
Monthly press releases are disseminated as provisional 60 days after the end of the reference period. Final data are released 90 days after the end of the reference period. Data are transmitted to Eurostat 60 days after the end of the reference period.
Not available
Data on main aggregates are comparable since January 2021.
