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.
Service Producer Price Index (SPPI) of activities – expresses the development in the producer prices of services sold by Estonian service suppliers.
3.2. Classification system
NACE Rev.2
3.3. Coverage - sector
The SPPI is covering sections H, I, J, L, M and N (except M701, M72 and M75).
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
Service Producer prices are collected with monthly questionnaire. The questionnaires are designed separately for different activities. The reported prices include discounts and exclude VAT. A very detailed description of the service assures that the respondent is able to re-price the identical service product over time. Depending on service activity the list prices are used.
3.5. Statistical unit
Reporting unit is enterprise. Observation unit transaction (kind of activity unit - KAU).
3.6. Statistical population
The population covers services provided by Estonian enterprises within sectors described in 3.3. Coverage - sector.
List of active enterprises is obtained from business register for statistical purposes.
3.7. Reference area
The whole country is covered.
3.8. Coverage - Time
The first indices within SPPI are available from the 1st quarter of 2006.
3.9. Base period
Reference year: 2021=100
Index base period (the year of which weights are based) is t-2.
Index
The SPPI is calculated quarterly.
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)
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197 of 30 July 2020 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 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 § 34 and § 35 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.
Quarter
10.1. Dissemination format - News release
Not available.
10.2. Dissemination format - Publications
Not published.
10.3. Dissemination format - online database
Data are published under the heading „Economy/Prices” 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).
The reports "PEEI in Focus" provide, for each Member State detailed information on definitions, coverage and sampling issues, response rates, index compilation, error identification, seasonal adjustment and other quality aspects of these indicators.
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
The quality assessment is based on quality requirements of the ESS (relevance, accuracy, timeliness and punctuality, accessibility and clarity, coherence and comparability). The inspection of statistical survey, updating survey methodology and statistical questionnaire are carried out.
Data are only published when they have a high degree of consistency.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications.
Bank of Estonia.
Eurostat.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
Since 1996 Statistics Estonia conducts reputation surveys and user surveys. Users‘ suggestions and information about taking them into account are available on the website.
12.3. Completeness
Following Nace Rev. 2 sections H, I, J, L, M and N (except M701, M72 and M75) required by the regulation are covered with reference year 2021=100.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
The type of survey and the data collection methods ensure sufficient coverage and timeliness.
Sample size is 600 units.
The weight system t-2 (weighting patterns, sample of respondents and basket of goods) and base prices Dec t-1 for calculations are updated every year. The representativeness is ensured.
Data for the last three months may be adjusted. The data are considered final after three months following the reference month.
13.2. Sampling error
Not applicable.
13.3. Non-sampling error
Prices are mainly collected by web based questionnaire where automatic controls and checks in place.
The response rate is about 95%. E-mail remainders and telephone calls are used to maintain response rate.
Models are not used.
Imputation methods have been used for prices that are not available. Based on last observed information, prices are carried forward or imputed by observing the movement in the index for similar products or product groups.
14.1. Timeliness
The SPPI's are published quarterly on the 45th day following the end of the reference quarter or on the next business day.
Data for the last three months may be adjusted. The data are considered final after three months following the reference month.
14.2. Punctuality
The data have been published at the time announced in the release calendar.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
The data are comparable in entire country. No geographical regions, Estonia as a whole.
15.2. Comparability - over time
The data are comparable across time.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
Indices are coherent cross domain.
15.4. Coherence - internal
The aggregates are coherent with the total.
The assessment of cost and burden covers the statistics for NSI as well as STS needs.
Cost (NSI) hours per year: not available
Burden (respondents) hours per year: 2025
17.1. Data revision - policy
The same revision policy is applied to data released nationally and transmitted to Eurostat.
Data revision policy is described in the Dissemination Policy of Statistics Estonia.
Data for the last three months may be adjusted. The data are considered final after three months following the reference month.
17.2. Data revision - practice
Methodological changes and revisions are announced at the same time as the changes.
18.1. Source data
The data source is a statistical survey. The sample for the survey is drawn from the Business Register for Statistical Purposes. Depending on the industry respondents have been selected by applying Probability Proportional to Size (PPS) sampling or judicious sampling. The sample is updated every year. Prices are mainly collected by web based questionnaire.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Quarterly dissemination to Eurostat (based on monthly questionnaires)
18.3. Data collection
Data are collected through eSTAT (the web channel for electronic data submission). eSTAT is also used to monitor the completion of questionnaires. The questionnaires have been designed for completion in eSTAT by the respondents themselves and they include instructions and controls. The questionnaires and information about data submission are available on Statistics Estonia’s website. Data are collected with the monthly statistical questionnaires.
18.4. Data validation
Prices data are reviewed by the price statistics staff. In case of problems or doubtful cases the respondents are contacted by telephone for clarification. The price statistics staff verifies the computation of the index at various stages of its compilation.
18.5. Data compilation
The (chain) Laspeyres formula is used. Based on available information, the last observed price is carried forward or this is imputed by observing the movement in the index for similar products or product groups. The weights system of the service producer price index of activities and base prices for calculation every year. The weights system corresponds to the service sales revenue of enterprises in the year t-2. The base prices for the calculation of the service producer price index were the prices of the last year (t-1) December.
18.6. Adjustment
The SPPI's are not seasonally adjusted.
None.
Service Producer Price Index (SPPI) of activities – expresses the development in the producer prices of services sold by Estonian service suppliers.
5 June 2025
Service Producer prices are collected with monthly questionnaire. The questionnaires are designed separately for different activities. The reported prices include discounts and exclude VAT. A very detailed description of the service assures that the respondent is able to re-price the identical service product over time. Depending on service activity the list prices are used.
Reporting unit is enterprise. Observation unit transaction (kind of activity unit - KAU).
The population covers services provided by Estonian enterprises within sectors described in 3.3. Coverage - sector.
List of active enterprises is obtained from business register for statistical purposes.
The whole country is covered.
The SPPI is calculated quarterly.
The type of survey and the data collection methods ensure sufficient coverage and timeliness.
Sample size is 600 units.
The weight system t-2 (weighting patterns, sample of respondents and basket of goods) and base prices Dec t-1 for calculations are updated every year. The representativeness is ensured.
Data for the last three months may be adjusted. The data are considered final after three months following the reference month.
Index
The (chain) Laspeyres formula is used. Based on available information, the last observed price is carried forward or this is imputed by observing the movement in the index for similar products or product groups. The weights system of the service producer price index of activities and base prices for calculation every year. The weights system corresponds to the service sales revenue of enterprises in the year t-2. The base prices for the calculation of the service producer price index were the prices of the last year (t-1) December.
The data source is a statistical survey. The sample for the survey is drawn from the Business Register for Statistical Purposes. Depending on the industry respondents have been selected by applying Probability Proportional to Size (PPS) sampling or judicious sampling. The sample is updated every year. Prices are mainly collected by web based questionnaire.
Quarter
The SPPI's are published quarterly on the 45th day following the end of the reference quarter or on the next business day.
Data for the last three months may be adjusted. The data are considered final after three months following the reference month.
The data are comparable in entire country. No geographical regions, Estonia as a whole.
