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 survey covers Sections H, I, J, L, M and N of NACE Rev. 2.
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
Turnover index of services – an index that expresses the change in sales of services at current prices.
3.5. Statistical unit
Reporting unit - enterprise, observation unit - KAU, ie the combination 1 LEU = 1 ENT = 1 KAU is used.
3.6. Statistical population
The Statistical Business Register based list of active economic units which are active in the field of service. There are about 66 000 enterprises in the target population.
3.7. Reference area
The whole country is covered.
3.8. Coverage - Time
The indicator was compiled for the first time in 1995 on quarterly basis.
Since 2020 the data are collected on monthly basis.
3.9. Base period
2021=100
Index
Since 2022 monthly.
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 2020/1197 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 statistic (General Implementing Act).
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 § 32, § 34, § 35, § 38 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.
Monthly.
10.1. Dissemination format - News release
Not published.
10.2. Dissemination format - Publications
Not published.
10.3. Dissemination format - online database
Data have been published under the heading “Economy/Financial statistics of enterprises“ 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 Statitics micro-data are regulated by Statistics Estonia's "Procedure for the 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.
A methodological description of the survey is available in the website of Statistics Estonia (ESMS metadata).
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
Statistics Estonia performs all statistical activities according to an international model (Generic Statistical Business Process Model – GSBPM). According to the GSBPM, the final phase of statistical activities is overall evaluation using information gathered in each phase or sub-process (this information includes, among other things, feedback from users, process metadata, system metrics and suggestions from employees). This information is used to prepare the evaluation report which outlines all the quality problems related to the specific statistical activity and serves as input for improvement actions.
Service enterprises turover is based on the administrative data. The population includes about 70,000 enterprises. The data may be revised (if errors are discovered) during the year after the end of the reference period, but in general the data are final after they are first published.
13.2. Sampling error
Not measured because of the usage of administrative data.
13.3. Non-sampling error
Not measured because of the usage of administrative data.
14.1. Timeliness
The data are released 60 days upon the end of the reference month (T+60).
14.2. Punctuality
The data have been published at the time announced in the release calender.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
The data are comparable with the data of European Union Member States.
15.2. Comparability - over time
The data are comparable across time.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
Monthly indicators of service enterprises are coherent with same quarterly and yearly (SBS) indicators.
15.4. Coherence - internal
Higher level aggregations are derived from detailed data according to predefined procedures.
The assessment of cost covers the statistics for NSI as well as STS needs.
Administrative data are used; there is no administrative burden for respondents.
The same revision policy is applied to data released nationally and transmitted to Eurostat.
17.2. Data revision - practice
The published data may be revised if the methodology is modified, if errors are discovered, if new or better data become available within a year from the end of the reference period.
If the data are adjusted or revised, then this is marked in footnotes in the published tables.
The quality indicators used in the data revision practice are MR (Mean Revision) and MAR (Mean Absolute Revision). The calculated values for the last 36 months (January 2021 to December 2023) of turnover in services (TOVT) are:
Annual growth rates for original data series (YoY) MR = 0,13% , MAR = 0,13% Annual groth rates for calendary adjusted data series (YoY) MR = 0,13% , MAR = 0,14%
18.1. Source data
The administrative data. Data of value added tax returns (form KMD) from the Estonian Tax and Customs Board are used. Turnover is calculated using the indicators of value added tax returns.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Monthly.
18.3. Data collection
Data are gained from Estonian Tax and Customs Board through Data Exchange Layer X-Road.
18.4. Data validation
Arithmetic and qualitative controls are used in the validation process, including comparison with the data of previous periods and other surveys.
18.5. Data compilation
Turnover index of services – output parameters are calculated by detailed aggregated turnover data.
The turnover index is a Laspeyres chain index. The turnover from SBS Y-2 annual survey is used as weights. Weights are changed every year.
18.6. Adjustment
More information about the adjustment is found in added template.
Turnover index of services – an index that expresses the change in sales of services at current prices.
Reporting unit - enterprise, observation unit - KAU, ie the combination 1 LEU = 1 ENT = 1 KAU is used.
The Statistical Business Register based list of active economic units which are active in the field of service. There are about 66 000 enterprises in the target population.
The whole country is covered.
Since 2022 monthly.
Service enterprises turover is based on the administrative data. The population includes about 70,000 enterprises. The data may be revised (if errors are discovered) during the year after the end of the reference period, but in general the data are final after they are first published.
Index
Turnover index of services – output parameters are calculated by detailed aggregated turnover data.
The turnover index is a Laspeyres chain index. The turnover from SBS Y-2 annual survey is used as weights. Weights are changed every year.
The administrative data. Data of value added tax returns (form KMD) from the Estonian Tax and Customs Board are used. Turnover is calculated using the indicators of value added tax returns.
Monthly.
The data are released 60 days upon the end of the reference month (T+60).
The data are comparable with the data of European Union Member States.
