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 Service Producer Price Index (SPPI) is an output price index and measures the change in the prices of services on a quarterly basis.
3.2. Classification system
The classifications used in STS is NACE rev.2.
3.3. Coverage - sector
The following NACE divisions are currently covered:
NACE 51 - Air Transport.
NACE 61 - Communications.
NACE 62 - Computer Programming.
NACE 69 and 70.2 are currently work in progress.
More NACE categories will be developed so as to be fully compliant with the European Business Statistics Regulation.
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
The producer prices collected for this index are exclusive of VAT and reflect the average price of the quarter.
Various pricing methods are considered namely, real transaction prices, list prices, unit values and time based methods.
The definitions correspond to those listed in the European Business Statistics Regulation, 2021.
3.5. Statistical unit
Observation Unit: Enterprise
Reporting Unit: Legal
3.6. Statistical population
The statistical population includes units falling under NACE Divisions 51, 61 and 62. Grouped together, the population of these NACEs comprise around 500 units.
The population is maintained by the Business Registers unit.
3.7. Reference area
The indicator covers the national territory of the Maltese Islands.
3.8. Coverage - Time
The data are available from the year 2010.
3.9. Base period
Base year (year on which weights are based): 2021
Reference year (year when the index equals 100): 2021
The same base and reference years are used for data published locally and that transmitted to Eurostat.
The data are provided in index form.
The data are collected and published on a quarterly basis.
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
Data Sharing matters are governed by the Malta Statistics Authority Act XXIV of 2000. Industrial producer price data also falls under the SDDS and Eurostat requirements.
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
Apart from the established legislative framework, the NSO is also guided by an internal general confidentiality policy. Data tagged as confidential are not available for publication.
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
Confidentiality matters are regulated by the Malta Statistics Authority Act XXIV of 2000. Such data are marked as such.
8.1. Release calendar
An advance release calendar is published on the NSOs website. The calendar is published with a 3-month advance notice and published the details for the forthcoming 3 months.
8.2. Release calendar access
All releases are published and disseminated at 1100 hrs as scheduled in the Advance Release Calendar. The calendar is published on the NSO website and includes a 3 month advance notice (the current month and the next two months).
8.3. Release policy - user access
National statistical releases are issued according to the release calendar and are made available to all users simultaneously. All releases are posted on the organisation's website,
Eurostat transmissions for this index are carried out on a quarterly basis and three months after the end of the reference period.
10.1. Dissemination format - News release
The main dissemination channel for official statistics is the NSO website.
No news release is issued for this indicator.
10.2. Dissemination format - Publications
The short-term statistics only publishes its figures in an annual compendium named Malta in Figures or Trends in Malta. These can be accessed from the NSO website.
10.3. Dissemination format - online database
The NSO website offers an online statistical database (StatDB) that provides a more in-depth analysis for the more expert statistical user or researcher. The StatDB requires registration as only registered users can extract data from the database. Registration is free-of-charge. Currently, this indicator is not available in this format.
10.4. Dissemination format - microdata access
In general, index results made available to Eurostat ensure a sufficient degree of representativeness of data. More detailed data than that published locally and internationally are available on request but are subject to the confidentiality clauses.
In such cases, data are provided in index form. Micro data are not provided to users.
10.5. Dissemination format - other
Data are transmitted to Eurostat on a quarterly basis and are part of the SDDS system.
The NSO quality assurance principles are developed according to the ESS Handbook for Quality Reports (2014).
11.2. Quality management - assessment
Aspects of quality are divided into several steps. These are specifying needs, designing and building data instruments and collecting, processing, analysing, disseminating, archiving and evaluating data. The main guiding principles in quality management are found in the European Statistics Code of Practice and the Quality Assurance Framework of the ESS.
Overall, the quality of the indices is good.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
The main user of the indices is Eurostat.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
Not available.
12.3. Completeness
Data are not fully completed and every effort is being done to address this issue and improve compliance. This is the only non-compliance for STS Malta.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
The overall accuracy of the indicator is considered to be of good quality.
Sampling error is negligible, non-sampling error is small and the first estimates are not biased.
13.2. Sampling error
The sampling error is considered to be low.
13.3. Non-sampling error
Non-sampling errors relate to problems such as under or over coverage, non-response, data-processing and estimation.
Non-sampling errors in the index are mainly due to non-response.
Weighted response rate is usually very high and around 80%. Turnover is the weighting variable used to calculate this response rate.
14.1. Timeliness
The index is disseminated three months after the end of the reference period.
14.2. Punctuality
The NSO is committed to adhere to the timelines established by the EBS (European Business Statistics) Regulations and also issues news releases according to its pre-published calendar.
All deadlines were respected during the course of the year.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
To ensure geographical comparability across member states the index is compiled according to the EBS Regulations and EBS-STS Methodological Guidelines. The same concepts are applied to the whole national territory of the Maltese Islands.
15.2. Comparability - over time
The data series has been compiled since the year 2010.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
Data are not compared with any other source.
15.4. Coherence - internal
Aggregates are consistent with the other components.
Data burden is considered high but no data are available.
17.1. Data revision - policy
Revisions are carried according to Regulation 1165/98. Internal procedures are also established.
The same revision policy is applied to both data released nationally (although currently data is not released locally) and that sent to Eurostat.
Revision analysis is carried out before every transmission sent to Eurostat and clear explanations are also sought. Detailed explanations at micro data level are also analysed but only used internally for quality information purposes. Generally, this index will have routine minor revisions due to actual data replacing estimates due to non-response. Major revisions may also be done but this will be on an exceptional basis.
A revision calendar does not exist.
17.2. Data revision - practice
Data marked as provisional are revised when actual data are received and estimates are replaced.
18.1. Source data
Data are collected by means of a quarterly survey sample for all NACES, except for H51. H51 data are collected using internet.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Quarterly.
18.3. Data collection
Data is collected by means of a quarterly statistical questionnaire. Questionnaires are sent and received by e-mail.
18.4. Data validation
Validations of format and file structure checks and intra-dataset checks are checked with the use of in-house excel sheets and access databases.
Revisions analysis is also carried out for every data transmission sent to Eurostat using in-house access queries. When data revisions are significantly large, a short explanation is also given to Eurostat.
18.5. Data compilation
Non-response is treated by micro-estimation to ensure a full response for all surveyed units. The previous period is copied when it comes to producer prices.
A Laspeyres type index is used for compilation and the weights are updated every 5 years from the Structural Business Statistics survey.
The file conversion was GESMES/TS until 2018 and as from 2019 onwards the SDMX-ML format is used.
18.6. Adjustment
No adjustments are done.
No additional comments.
The Service Producer Price Index (SPPI) is an output price index and measures the change in the prices of services on a quarterly basis.
13 June 2025
The producer prices collected for this index are exclusive of VAT and reflect the average price of the quarter.
Various pricing methods are considered namely, real transaction prices, list prices, unit values and time based methods.
The definitions correspond to those listed in the European Business Statistics Regulation, 2021.
Observation Unit: Enterprise
Reporting Unit: Legal
The statistical population includes units falling under NACE Divisions 51, 61 and 62. Grouped together, the population of these NACEs comprise around 500 units.
The population is maintained by the Business Registers unit.
The indicator covers the national territory of the Maltese Islands.
The data are collected and published on a quarterly basis.
The overall accuracy of the indicator is considered to be of good quality.
Sampling error is negligible, non-sampling error is small and the first estimates are not biased.
The data are provided in index form.
Non-response is treated by micro-estimation to ensure a full response for all surveyed units. The previous period is copied when it comes to producer prices.
A Laspeyres type index is used for compilation and the weights are updated every 5 years from the Structural Business Statistics survey.
The file conversion was GESMES/TS until 2018 and as from 2019 onwards the SDMX-ML format is used.
Data are collected by means of a quarterly survey sample for all NACES, except for H51. H51 data are collected using internet.
Eurostat transmissions for this index are carried out on a quarterly basis and three months after the end of the reference period.
The index is disseminated three months after the end of the reference period.
To ensure geographical comparability across member states the index is compiled according to the EBS Regulations and EBS-STS Methodological Guidelines. The same concepts are applied to the whole national territory of the Maltese Islands.
The data series has been compiled since the year 2010.
