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 Services Producer Price Index (SPPI) measures the development of prices for services provided by enterprises in Sweden. The SPPI is compiled from a producer perspective, meaning that the index reflects the price changes received by service producers.
The indices are primarily designed for deflation purposes, enabling the calculation of production at constant prices in the National Accounts, as well as in the Index of Service Production and the Production Value Index. Other important uses include economic analysis, inflation monitoring, and the indexation of business contracts.
3.2. Classification system
The classification system applied is SPIN 2015, which is the Swedish version of CPA 2.1.
3.3. Coverage - sector
The covered sections are H, I, J, L, M, N, R and S.
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
The published indices are primarily business-to-all (BtoAll), reflecting price developments for services supplied to all types of customers. Prices collected are mainly business-to-business (B2B). For activities or product groups where business-to-consumer (B2C) transactions are relevant, price indices from the Consumer Price Index (CPI) are used.
Data are collected quarterly from Swedish enterprises. The survey distinguishes between domestic and foreign customers; however, the data are transmitted in aggregated form.
3.5. Statistical unit
The observation units consist of individual transactions associated with a given product offer, distinguished between the domestic and export markets. A product offer is defined as a specific combination of an enterprise and a product to be priced.
The reporting units are business entities engaged in the production of services within Sweden.
The observation unit is the transaction, representing a specific service provided.
The reporting unit is the enterprise providing the service.
3.6. Statistical population
The population is transactions of services provided by Swedish enterpises selling products in sections: H, I, J, L, M, N, R and S according to SPIN 2015.
The frame is Structural business statistics from Statistics Sweden. This source is also used for weights.
3.7. Reference area
The geographical coverage is limited to the national level (Sweden).
3.8. Coverage - Time
The first SPPI indices were developed in the 1990s, with the majority introduced between 2003 and 2008.
The coverage continues to be expanded, and additional indices are developed on an ongoing basis.
3.9. Base period
The index is referenced to 2021 (=100). For each year, the previous year's last quarter is used as the base period. Annual indices are constructed using a chain-linking approach.
The unit of measure is index numbers.
The reference period is the calendar quarter. Prices refer to the average price for the reference quarter.
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
Official Statistics Act of 2001 (Lagen (2001:99) om den officiella statistiken) supplemented by a regulation on Official Statistics (Förordningen (2001:100) om den officiella statistiken). Under the ordinance Statistics Sweden issues specific directions (Statistiska centralbyråns föreskrifter (SCB FS 2021:39) om uppgifter till statistik om prisindex i producent- och importled). (EBS) Regulation (EU) 2019/2152 on 27 November 2019 and the Commission implementing Regulation 2020/1197.
Reporting units are obliged to provide information. Non-respondents may be fined.
6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing
Eurostat
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
The law on confidentiality (Offentlighets och sekretesslagen (2009:400)) is applied. Statistics Sweden’s CBM on Statistical confidentiality is available in “Statistisk röjandekontroll”, Statistics Sweden, September 2001. The publication may be obtained from SCB, Publikationstjänsten, S-701 89 Örebro (E-mail:publ@scb.se). Current practices do not follow the CBM but are similar.
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
Confidential data are suppressed in accordance with statistical confidentiality requirements. Indices are published only when at least three reporting units are represented. In addition, no single unit may account for more than 60% of the total turnover, and no two units combined may account for more than 90%.
8.1. Release calendar
The release calendar is published annually on the website in November and covers the following calendar year.
8.2. Release calendar access
The release calendar is available on the website (see link below).
Data are disseminated simultaneously to all users via electronic means. No privileged access is granted to public authorities or other users outside the national statistical office. Following the national release, data are transmitted to Eurostat without delay.
Data are disseminated on a quarterly basis.
10.1. Dissemination format - News release
Data are disseminated through a news release and accompanying tables available on the website (see link below). The news release covers the Home Market Price Index, the Export Price Index, the Import Price Index, and the Services Producer Price Index (SPPI)
The indicators are disseminated on Statistics Sweden’s website. Data are available via the Statistical Database and in Statistical News (see link below).
In the English version of the website, the data can be accessed via: Finding statistics → Prices and economic trends → Price statistics → Producer and import price index.
Access to microdata is restricted to research purposes only.
10.5. Dissemination format - other
Data are transmitted to Eurostat for dissemination as national data.
10.6. Documentation on methodology
Methodological documentation is available on the website under About the statistics and Documentation (English), and under Om statistiken and Dokumentation (Swedish) (see link below).
The methods applied are largely based on the Producer Price Index Manual published by the IMF.
Various aspects of quality are systematically monitored and enhanced through annual action plans. Regular quantitative quality indicators are limited; however, the response rate is consistently monitored.
11.2. Quality management - assessment
The main sources of uncertainty are related to model assumptions and measurement errors, which are assessed as the largest contributors to overall uncertainty. Sampling, i.e. the use of a sample instead of a full census, represents an additional source of uncertainty. While sampling uncertainty can be quantified, other sources of uncertainty are generally not quantified.
Data are published approximately 40 days after the end of the reference period.
Missing observations (item non-response, typically around17-20%) are imputed using the average price development of similar products.
The use of internationally recognised standards supports geographical comparability.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
The main users are the national accounts, where the indices are used for deflation purposes. Eurostat uses the indices as part of the national data reporting. Companies use the indices for the indexation of long-term contracts. Economic analysts use the indices for forecasting the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
No formal measurement of user satisfaction is conducted. However, user feedback is taken into account in the production and development of the statistics.
12.3. Completeness
The requirements of the Short-Term Statistics (STS) Regulation and national user needs are fulfilled.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
No significant bias is identified in the data; however, a degree of uncertainty remains. The main sources of uncertainty are related to measurement and model assumptions. Measurement errors are assessed as the largest contributor to overall uncertainty, followed by model assumptions. Sampling and non-response both represent non-negligible sources of uncertainty, while coverage and data processing are considered to have a limited impact.
Further details on sampling and non-sampling errors are provided in the following sections.
13.2. Sampling error
A probability sampling design based on probability proportional to size (PPS) is applied, where the largest units are selected with certainty. Approximately 5,300 price observations are collected quarterly from around 4,600 enterprises.
A cut-off threshold of SEK 10 million per frame element is applied within each stratum. This implies that approximately 15% of the total population, in terms of turnover, is excluded from sampling. Smaller enterprises are assumed to be price takers, meaning that their price development is assumed to follow that of the sampled units within each stratum.
If an enterprise is considered covered when at least one price observation is collected within a stratum, the coverage rate is estimated at approximately 35%.
Sampling variances and standard errors are calculated and used primarily for sample allocation purposes
13.3. Non-sampling error
Non-sampling errors cannot be quantified. Assessments of the risk associated with different non-sampling error sources are carried out at the product group level on an ad hoc basis. These assessments are used internally and are not disseminated.
14.1. Timeliness
Data are released at 08:00 in accordance with a pre-announced release calendar, typically around 40 days after the end of the reference quarter.
The data collection and production process follows a standard quarterly schedule:
Questionnaires are sent at the end of the reference quarter to reach respondents on the first working day after the end of the reference period.
The deadline for responses is around the 20th day of the month following the reference quarter.
A reminder is sent after the 20th day of the month following the reference quarter.
Data are published around the 10th day of the second month following the reference quarter.
14.2. Punctuality
Data are released in accordance with the pre-announced release calendar.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
Harmonised definitions in accordance with the European Business Statistics (EBS) framework are applied consistently across the entire country, ensuring full geographical comparability.
15.2. Comparability - over time
Chain-linking is applied, allowing changes in the base year without introducing breaks in the time series.
When new or revised classifications are implemented, back-casting is carried out to maintain consistency and ensure comparability over time.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
Coherence with related statistical domains is ensured through the use of consistent definitions and populations. The statistical population is aligned with that used in Structural Business Statistics (SBS) and Foreign Trade in Services (FTS).
The indices are used as input for National Accounts and the Index of Service Production (ISP), primarily for deflation purposes.
15.4. Coherence - internal
Internal coherence is ensured through a consistent aggregation structure. Indices are compiled by aggregating from the lowest level to higher levels, using weights that are consistent and summable across all levels of aggregation. This ensures coherence throughout the index structure.
Chain-linking is applied at all levels of aggregation.
Respondents burden is estimated as 17 min per respondent and quarter. There are around 4.600 respondents giving a total burden on approximately 1300 hours per quarter.
The cost for Statistics Sweden is appoximately 800 hours per quarter (including data collection, auditing, calculations and publishing).
17.1. Data revision - policy
Revisions are carried out only when a substantial difference is identified. A substantial difference is defined as a change exceeding 0.1 index points in the overall index.
In the case of errors identified by Statistics Sweden, revised data are disseminated and communicated to users. When incorrect data are submitted by respondents, corrections are incorporated in the production process, and subsequent releases are adjusted to reflect improved estimates without revising previously published data.
The same revision policy is applied to Short-Term Statistics (STS) data disseminated nationally and transmitted to Eurostat.
17.2. Data revision - practice
The first release is considered final. Therefore revisions should not appear. Major methodological changes are announced in advance.
No revision for the year 2025, MAR/MR=0
18.1. Source data
Source data are collected through a statistical survey.
The sampling frame and weighting structure are primarily based on data from the Structural Business Statistics (SBS) survey.
A probability sampling design based on probability proportional to size (PPS) with a cut-off is applied. Turnover by product is used as the measure of size.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Data are collected on a quarterly basis.
18.3. Data collection
Data are collected for the Services Producer Price Index.
No changes were made to the questionnaires in 2025. Adjustments to the questionnaires are planned for the coming years, in line with updated internal policies at Statistics Sweden, particularly regarding the validation process.
18.4. Data validation
Data are validated continuously throughout the production process. Price changes exceeding ±10% compared with the previous month are systematically reviewed. In addition, observations with a large impact on the overall Import Price Index are subject to validation.
18.5. Data compilation
For cases of non-response, missing observations are imputed using the average quarterly development of similar products, unless there is information indicating that an unchanged price is more appropriate.
Grossing-up is handled within the weighting procedure.
The index is a chain-linked Laspeyres-type index, where the base period is the fourth quarter of the previous year. The weighting structure is updated annually using turnover data from year t–2, revalued to the price level of the fourth quarter of year t–1.
For each period, index links are calculated for each aggregate using the weights of the current year and are combined with the index value of the fourth quarter of the previous year.
Quality adjustment is carried out in accordance with methods described in the Producer Price Index Manual published by the IMF and other relevant guidelines
18.6. Adjustment
Prices quoted in currencies other than the national currency (SEK) are converted into SEK using the monthly average exchange rates published by Sveriges Riksbank (the central bank of Sweden) for the reference period.
Sub-indices are compiled in accordance with the European Business Statistics (EBS) Regulation, including sub-indices within the SPIN 2015 classification.
Data are not seasonally adjusted.
No comments.
The Services Producer Price Index (SPPI) measures the development of prices for services provided by enterprises in Sweden. The SPPI is compiled from a producer perspective, meaning that the index reflects the price changes received by service producers.
The indices are primarily designed for deflation purposes, enabling the calculation of production at constant prices in the National Accounts, as well as in the Index of Service Production and the Production Value Index. Other important uses include economic analysis, inflation monitoring, and the indexation of business contracts.
25 February 2026
The published indices are primarily business-to-all (BtoAll), reflecting price developments for services supplied to all types of customers. Prices collected are mainly business-to-business (B2B). For activities or product groups where business-to-consumer (B2C) transactions are relevant, price indices from the Consumer Price Index (CPI) are used.
Data are collected quarterly from Swedish enterprises. The survey distinguishes between domestic and foreign customers; however, the data are transmitted in aggregated form.
The observation units consist of individual transactions associated with a given product offer, distinguished between the domestic and export markets. A product offer is defined as a specific combination of an enterprise and a product to be priced.
The reporting units are business entities engaged in the production of services within Sweden.
The observation unit is the transaction, representing a specific service provided.
The reporting unit is the enterprise providing the service.
The population is transactions of services provided by Swedish enterpises selling products in sections: H, I, J, L, M, N, R and S according to SPIN 2015.
The frame is Structural business statistics from Statistics Sweden. This source is also used for weights.
The geographical coverage is limited to the national level (Sweden).
The reference period is the calendar quarter. Prices refer to the average price for the reference quarter.
No significant bias is identified in the data; however, a degree of uncertainty remains. The main sources of uncertainty are related to measurement and model assumptions. Measurement errors are assessed as the largest contributor to overall uncertainty, followed by model assumptions. Sampling and non-response both represent non-negligible sources of uncertainty, while coverage and data processing are considered to have a limited impact.
Further details on sampling and non-sampling errors are provided in the following sections.
The unit of measure is index numbers.
For cases of non-response, missing observations are imputed using the average quarterly development of similar products, unless there is information indicating that an unchanged price is more appropriate.
Grossing-up is handled within the weighting procedure.
The index is a chain-linked Laspeyres-type index, where the base period is the fourth quarter of the previous year. The weighting structure is updated annually using turnover data from year t–2, revalued to the price level of the fourth quarter of year t–1.
For each period, index links are calculated for each aggregate using the weights of the current year and are combined with the index value of the fourth quarter of the previous year.
Quality adjustment is carried out in accordance with methods described in the Producer Price Index Manual published by the IMF and other relevant guidelines
Source data are collected through a statistical survey.
The sampling frame and weighting structure are primarily based on data from the Structural Business Statistics (SBS) survey.
A probability sampling design based on probability proportional to size (PPS) with a cut-off is applied. Turnover by product is used as the measure of size.
Data are disseminated on a quarterly basis.
Data are released at 08:00 in accordance with a pre-announced release calendar, typically around 40 days after the end of the reference quarter.
The data collection and production process follows a standard quarterly schedule:
Questionnaires are sent at the end of the reference quarter to reach respondents on the first working day after the end of the reference period.
The deadline for responses is around the 20th day of the month following the reference quarter.
A reminder is sent after the 20th day of the month following the reference quarter.
Data are published around the 10th day of the second month following the reference quarter.
Harmonised definitions in accordance with the European Business Statistics (EBS) framework are applied consistently across the entire country, ensuring full geographical comparability.
Chain-linking is applied, allowing changes in the base year without introducing breaks in the time series.
When new or revised classifications are implemented, back-casting is carried out to maintain consistency and ensure comparability over time.
