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National reference metadata

Sweden

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.

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Production in services (sts_os_p)

National Reference Metadata in Euro SDMX Metadata Structure (ESMS)

Compiling agency: Statistics Sweden

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Index of Service Production

Main purpose is to be able to calculate the production in the service sector,  both in total and by activity.

14 June 2024

Service production calculated based on data collection of total turnover including value added tax and excluding exports (NACE Rev. 2 Divisions 45, 55, 56, 59, 60, 90, 91, 92, 93, 95, 96), total turnover excluding value added tax but including exports (the remaining activities in the service sector covered by the Index of Service Production except for NACE group 68.2, see concept 3.3). Production in NACE group 68.2 is calculated using data on produced quantities.

Planned changes in information collected: No planned changes.

Accounting conventions: The reference period is the calendar month.

Reporting unit: The reporting unit is kind of activity unit 

Observation unit (s): The observation unit is the activity unit

There are 750 000 kind of activity units in the reference population.

All regions of Sweden are covered.

Reference period is the calendar month.

There are a number of sources for inaccuracy in the services production index. This is an attempt to structure the possible sources for inaccuracy and to qualitatively describe the effects.

Coverage: The frame is constructed yearly using a "frozen" version of the business register, so enterprises entering into the business register after this freezing moment is considered undercoverage, and enterprises exiting the frame after this moment are considered overcoverage.

Sampling: The sample method is stratified random sampling. Stratification variables are NACE Rev.2 activity and size of yearly turnover. The sample consists of eight size classes where size class 1-4 is sampled, 5-6 and 8-9 is censused. Size classes 1-4 consists of the smallest units and 5-6 of the largest. Size class 8 consists of complex units consisting of two or more legal units. Size class 9 consists of various special cases. Size classes are created using the Dalenius-Hodges rule. Sample size in each strata is determined using Neyman-allocation.

Nonsresponse: Nonresponse is handled by imputation methods for both item and object nonresponse. The imputation method consists of a list of ranked alternatives where the first alternative is used if it meets a set of criteria’s. If the first alternative is not possible due to failure to meet the criteria’s the next alternative is used and so on. The process is automated using the BANFF-system in SAS.

Measurement: As always there may be measurement errors with sampling. The statistics is cross-checked with sources such as VAT-data, in order to identify measurement errors and correct them. Questionnaire data for units in size class 1-4 is replaced with VAT-data on a quarterly basis for all units in the frame which decreases measurement errors. However the VAT-data also contain measurement errors and may have periodicity problems. But since each unit only represents itself the measurement errors are limited compared to a "normal" estimation.

Data processing: Turnover is deflated using various price indices. Errors and inconsistencies in this data source may affect accuracy of the turnover index.

Model assumptions: The frame is constructed using a cutoff where units over the cutoff together include 90-95 % (depending on sector) of the yearly turnover. The turnover for the units under the cutoff is assumed to have the same development in turnover as the units over the cutoff.

Data is revised so data changes after the first release.

The final result is an index with reference year equal to 100.

Missing observations from unit and item non-responses are dealt with by using automatic imputations carried out by the estimation programs.

The estimator is an Horvitz-Thompson type of estimator combined with VAT-information. Sampled enterprises are replaced with turnover based on VAT-data when quarterly turnover data is available. Censuses units are never replaced with turnover from VAT.

Turnover based on VAT does not only apply sample units in stratas that are sampled, but all units in the frame so the survey is a census on a quarterly basis.

The index method is a chained Laspeyre-index with weights updated each year using annual overlap.

The grossing up is based on the relation between the number of enterprises in the population and the number of responding enterprises in each activity and strata.

A program developed by Statistics Sweden fetches data from the internal databases and converts it to GESMES/TS in order to transmit the data to Eurostat.

The source is a statistical survey. For final calculations data from the Swedish VAT registry is also used.

Frame on which the source is based is Swedish Business Register and Swedish value added tax register. All at Statistics Sweden.

It is a stratified sample survey. As a base, activity and employee size are used for stratification but also total turnover is considered. Enterprises are also classified into size strata if they belong to a consolidated business group (concern).

There are approximately 750 000 kind of activity units in the reference population.

The sample is updated once a year.

Monthly

Service production statistics are published approximately 35 – 40 days after the end of the reference period.

 

Data collection

Questionnaires are sent to the reporting units at the end of the month of the reference period asking for replies by the 15th of the following month.

The same statistical concepts are applied in the entire Swedish national territory. No geographical discrepancies exist.

Data are comparable with other EU countries thanks to the use of common definitions (Commission Regulation No 1503/2006).

Comparable data are available from 2001 and there are no breaks in series.

Comparability over time is mostly affected by changes in changes in NACE classification system. The transistion from NACE Rev.1.1 to NACE Rev.2 meant that other publishing industry and  the recycling industry are not included in the industry.