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 aim of the statistics is to measure changes in turnover among establishments within the service sector.
3.2. Classification system
NACE Rev. 2.
3.3. Coverage - sector
Sectors H, I, J, M, N.
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
Turnover comprises total revenue from market sales of goods and services supplied to third parties. It includes all duties and taxes except for the VAT invoiced by the unit vis-à-vis its customers and other similar deductible taxes directly linked to turnover.
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
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 (EBS-Regulation).
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 is sent to Eurostat.
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
Confidential micro data: According to § 2-7 of the Statistics Act of 21st June 2019 No. 32, collected data are subject to secrecy and are to be kept or destroyed in a secure manner. Any use of the data must be in accordance with the rules set out by the Data Inspectorate.
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
Data are only published down to an activity level at which they are not confidential.
8.1. Release calendar
The publication schedule is pre-released in Statistics Norway's Advance Release Calendar.
Statistics Norway releases statistics at its website, www.ssb.no. The statistics are released at 08.00 in Norwegian and English. No other governmental or non-governmental bodies have prior access to data before its release. Data are transmitted to Eurostat within 60 days after the end of the reference period. Usually data are transmitted immediately after national dissemination.
Data are submitted to Eurostat in accordance with the required level of detail except L68, within the specified deadlines and in the required format
10.6. Documentation on methodology
See 10.5.
10.7. Quality management - documentation
Not available.
11.1. Quality assurance
In general, Statistics Norway applies the European statistical Code of Practice.
11.2. Quality management - assessment
Quality control and editing of the statistics takes place in several stages. When the reported data are received essential variables are controlled. Quality control of the data continues before and after registration.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
Primary users of the statistics are public sector agencies (Central Bank of Norway, Departments, etc.), private sector agencies and organisations within the industries. The statistic is used to analyse and monitor the development of the economy. At Statistics Norway the statistics is used by the Division for National accounts and other research and analysis activity.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
The feedback from main users indicates satisfaction.
12.3. Completeness
The requirements of the European STS regulation are fulfilled. The statistics cover all service sectors, excluding sector L
13.1. Accuracy - overall
The accuracy of the index is deemed to be good.
Sampling error is low (see section 13.2).
Non-sampling error is also low (see section 13.3).
13.2. Sampling error
The coefficient of variation has been calculated for the total turnover (exclusive L68) estimate for each month in 2024. The resulting coefficient of variation for each month, given as a percentage, are reported in the table below.
Service total, exclusive L68
Month
Coefficient of variation, %
January
0.62
February
0.41
March
0.45
April
1.38
May
0.43
June
0.42
July
1.07
August
0.46
September
0.45
October
0.76
November
0.45
December
0.52
13.3. Non-sampling error
Actions to speed up or increase the rate of response:
Major non-respondents are contacted prior to publication to obtain response.
Non-response rate in 2024:
Month
Non-response rate, %
January
0.50
February
0.22
March
0.22
April
0.31
May
0.45
June
0.54
July
0.49
August
0.63
September
0.63
October
0.59
November
0.73
December
0.73
AVERAGE
0.50
14.1. Timeliness
Timelines:
The statistics for a given month are usually published approximately 37 days after the end of that month.
Timetable of data collection:
The respondents normally receive the questionnaire right after the end of the reference month. The respondents have the first deadline around 16 days after they have received the questionnaire.
Data are published on a national level, thus there is no comparability between regions. The statistics are produced according to Council Regulations, thus comparable with other EU countries under the same regulations.
15.2. Comparability - over time
The statistics are comparable back to January 2015.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
The turnover index is produced for the same industries as in the structural business statistics.
15.4. Coherence - internal
The statistic is internally coherent.
The number of sample size is approximately 2 200 enterprises, and it is estimated to use 5 minutes to answer for the questionnaire. This will come up to around 26 400 enterprises and 132 000 minutes yearly.
17.1. Data revision - policy
Published figures are final and no preliminary figures are released. Revised /corrected figures are only published in case of errors.
Revised numbers are published simultaneously with a scheduled release of new monthly indices. The revisions are annonced simultaneously with the release.
The same revision policy is applied nationally and in the transmission to Eurostat.
17.2. Data revision - practice
Revised numbers are published simultaneously with a scheduled release of new monthly indices. The revisions are annonced simultaneously with the release.
From January 2023, the statistics have been produced monthly, and therefore we have short series to calculate MR and MAR.
MR
MAR
Unadjusted (YoY)
H
-0,01
0,01
I
0,00
0,02
J
0,00
0,01
M-STS
0,00
0,01
N
0,01
0,02
Calender adjusted (YoY)
H
-0,09
0,24
I
-0,07
0,25
J
-0,13
0,18
M-STS
0,01
0,85
N
-0,01
0,24
Seasonally adjusted (MoM)
H
-0,04
0,52
I
0,05
0,54
J
0,52
1,05
M-STS
0,35
1,75
N
0,02
0,57
18.1. Source data
The sample consists of a selection of approx. 2,200 enterprises where the information is obtained using electronic reporting in Altinn. In addition, the VAT register and information from Statistics Norway's own Business and Enterprise Register are used.
The VAT data as well as annual turnover from business statistics and the number of employees are used in the sampling process.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Monthly
18.3. Data collection
Questionnaires used in the survey:
The electronic questionnaire will be sent via Altinn (the Norwegian internet portal for digital dialogue between businesses, private individuals and public agencies) to collect the value of turnover.
18.4. Data validation
Mathematical and logical controls have been added to the data registration routine. Reported figures are compared with previously reported figures, as well as historical figures for annual turnover and data from the VAT register.
18.5. Data compilation
Estimates for non-response:
When the final results are published, the non-respondents rate is around 1 % of the sample.
Estimates for grossing-up to population levels:
A ratio estimator is applied to each stratum to expand sample results to represent the total population.
Type of index:
Index of turnover: unadjusted, calendar adjusted, seasonally adjusted and smoothed seasonally adjusted figures
Method of weighting and chaining:
Since the index of turnover is a simple value index, no weights are used.
18.6. Adjustment
Seasonal adjustments are calculated using the X-13-ARIMA method. For more information see the sub-section "About seasonal adjustment", under the section "About the statistics" at Turnover Index for Services – Statistics Norway (SSB)
Not available.
The aim of the statistics is to measure changes in turnover among establishments within the service sector.
5 June 2025
Turnover comprises total revenue from market sales of goods and services supplied to third parties. It includes all duties and taxes except for the VAT invoiced by the unit vis-à-vis its customers and other similar deductible taxes directly linked to turnover.
Non-sampling error is also low (see section 13.3).
Index.
Estimates for non-response:
When the final results are published, the non-respondents rate is around 1 % of the sample.
Estimates for grossing-up to population levels:
A ratio estimator is applied to each stratum to expand sample results to represent the total population.
Type of index:
Index of turnover: unadjusted, calendar adjusted, seasonally adjusted and smoothed seasonally adjusted figures
Method of weighting and chaining:
Since the index of turnover is a simple value index, no weights are used.
The sample consists of a selection of approx. 2,200 enterprises where the information is obtained using electronic reporting in Altinn. In addition, the VAT register and information from Statistics Norway's own Business and Enterprise Register are used.
The VAT data as well as annual turnover from business statistics and the number of employees are used in the sampling process.
Monthly
Timelines:
The statistics for a given month are usually published approximately 37 days after the end of that month.
Timetable of data collection:
The respondents normally receive the questionnaire right after the end of the reference month. The respondents have the first deadline around 16 days after they have received the questionnaire.
Data are published on a national level, thus there is no comparability between regions. The statistics are produced according to Council Regulations, thus comparable with other EU countries under the same regulations.
The statistics are comparable back to January 2015.
