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.
National Accounts Department / Short Term Statistics Unit
1.3. Contact name
Confidential because of GDPR
1.4. Contact person function
Confidential because of GDPR
1.5. Contact mail address
Mrs. Adelina Andrade. Instituto Nacional de Estatística (INE)
Avenida António José de Almeida, 5. 1000-043 Lisboa, Portugal
1.6. Contact email address
Confidential because of GDPR
1.7. Contact phone number
Confidential because of GDPR
1.8. Contact fax number
Confidential because of GDPR
2.1. Metadata last certified
20 May 2026
2.2. Metadata last posted
20 May 2026
2.3. Metadata last update
20 May 2026
3.1. Data description
Services Turnover Indices
3.2. Classification system
NACE Rev. 2
3.3. Coverage - sector
Activity coverage:
Services: Sections H to N of NACE Rev.2 excluding Sections K
Size coverage:
Enterprises with 50 or more persons employed are observed exhaustively. The following size classes are used: 1-5, 6-9, 10-20, 21-49, 50-200, 201-500, 500 and more.
The reference population represents all the statistical units recorded on the General Register of Statistical Units (FGUE – Ficheiro Geral de Unidades Estatísticas), whose last update for the variables total turnover and persons employed occurred in the previous 3 years of the reference year.
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
Turnover comprises separately charged costs, invoices, packaging as well discounts and other reductions. Information is collected concerning total turnover. All the definitions are according to the Commission Regulation no. 588/2001.
3.5. Statistical unit
KAU (Kind-of-activity-unit).
3.6. Statistical population
The sample is composed by both exhaustive and random parts. The exhaustive segment corresponds to the last quintile of either the turnover or number of employees (defined at 5 digits of NACE Rev. 2).
Services: all units in business register in Sections H to N of NACE Rev.2 excluing Sections K and L of NACE Rev.2 Sample Frame: 70598 Units reporting: 3042 for Base Year 2021 year 2024.
FOR section L - adminnitrative sourece e-invoice is used instead of sample and is considered to be exhaustive
3.7. Reference area
Portugal - All the economic territory is included
3.8. Coverage - Time
Services: Base 2021: from 01/2005 onwards except for NACE L that only starts at 012021. therefore total services is not available before january 2021.
3.9. Base period
Base year: 2021
Indices
Month
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
The survey is mandatory and fines up to EUR 50,000 be applied.
Planned changes in legal basis, obligation to respond and frame used
There are no planned changes
6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing
Data are transmitted to other international organizations (Eurostat and OECD).
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
The National Statistical Law (”Lei 22/2008” from May 13th) establishes the main principles as well as the working methods and composition of the Statistical System.
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
NACE REV 2 with less than 4 units and below a response rate of 85% are considered confidential, except if all units gave their formal authorisation to release data.
8.1. Release calendar
An advance release calendar that provides notice one-quarter in advance of the precise release dates is disseminated on the Statistics Portugal Internet website. In addition, a two-month in advance release calendar is disseminated in Informação Estatística, (in Portuguese). Free copies can be ordered from the contact person shown on the dissemination formats page.
8.2. Release calendar access
An advanced Calendar is published with 2 month adavnce.
8.3. Release policy - user access
Simultaneous release to all interested parties
Data are released simultaneously to all interested parties by issuing the press release (“Destaque” in Portuguese) to the media and by simultaneously placing the data on the Statistics Portugal website.
Identification of internal government access to data before release
Services: Sections H to N of NACE Rev.2 excluing Sections K of NACE Rev.2 and their respective divisions.
Length of time series: from 01/2005 (NACE Rev.2, Base 2021) except for total and Secction L that only starts at 01-2021
Presentation: All of the variables are transmitted as an index in an unadjusted, calendar adjusted and seasonal adjusted forms. either nominal indices either volume of sales
Identification of ministerial commentary on the occasion of statistical releases: No ministerial commentary is attached to the release of data by the statistical office.
There is no public dissemination of micro data. Micro data are available for scientific investigations after confidentiality treatment of data.
10.5. Dissemination format - other
Data are sent to Eurostat to be used in European aggregates and/or to be released as national data.
10.6. Documentation on methodology
Dissemination of documentation on methodology and sources used in preparing statistics
A detailed methodological note in Portuguese only for base year 2021 is available free.
10.7. Quality management - documentation
Not available.
11.1. Quality assurance
Monthly micro data are analyzed, checking the major changes on monthly and annual growth rates at enterprise level and also cross checking with other related variables of the unit’s answer. If necessary, units are contacted by telephone or email. Indices are analyzed to check the coherence of the results and, if necessary, the procedure is restarted.
All these procedures respect the quality policy defined in INE’s Code of Practice
All these procedures respect the quality policy defined statistics Portugal.
11.2. Quality management - assessment
Indices are based on reliable data; Publication of results is always punctual; Further methodological details and other information can be found in point 14; multiple plausibility checks with different sources are done.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
Short-term statistics are used by different national (such as Central Bank, Ministry of Finance and researchers) and international institutions (Eurostat, OECD) and non-institutional users, according to the needs expressed in the Statistical Superior Council (SSC). The SSC is the body where are analyzed the user’s needs and defined the Statics Program. There are no user’s requests in addition to what it is available.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
Apart from occasional user surveys aimed at specific target groups, Statistics Portugal conducts 6 permanent user satisfaction surveys targeted at the users of 6 different SP services: the User Support Service (responding to information requests), SP Portal (website), SP Libraries, Study visits hosted by SP, Training sessions to basic and secondary school teachers aiming at improving statistical literacy and Training sessions in the context of Statistics Portugal Information Network in Higher Education Institutions Libraries.
User satisfaction measured in each of the permanent user satisfaction surveys is summarized into a user satisfaction index using the extreme balance responses (EBR). This approach values the extreme answers in detriment of the “central” valuations which tend to represent a less expressive dissatisfaction or satisfaction. The scale weights are as follows: EBR = F1 * (-1) + F2 * (-0,5) + F3 * (-0,25) + F4 * (0,25) + F5 * (0,5) + F6, where Fi means the relative frequency of observed values for each one of the categories i (i= 1,…,6). Data is referenced in a metric scale between -1 and +1, where values next to -1 mean full dissatisfaction and values near +1 mean full satisfaction.
Results have been already since 2014 and the user satisfaction index reached 0.61 EBR in 2023.
12.3. Completeness
The Services Turnover Indices are fully compliant regarding STS-Regulation. There are no requests of additional information.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
Period
Services
Jan-25
12,8
Feb-25
9,3
Mar-25
9,1
Apr-25
8,0
May-25
12,1
Jun-25
8,5
Jul-25
9,9
Aug-25
7,7
Sep-25
8,4
Oct-25
7,0
Nov-25
9,2
Dec-25
8,0
Average
9,2
13.2. Sampling error
It is not possible to indicate a classical sampling error.
13.3. Non-sampling error
Response Rate
A threshold of 85% is defined for dissemination. Nevertheless, usually data is published with a response rate of more than 90%.
Actions to speed up or increase the rate of response
A lot of checks are carried out at the micro and macro data level. For example the following processing errors may occur:
A) Treatment on micro-data-level
Human errors during the data editing process: these errors are often recognized with automated checks – online validation of chain and YOY rates of the unit;
Plausibility errors: a lot of checks are carried out automatically (but under possibility of human interaction): e.g. check of completeness/ sums/ horizontal logical dependences/ vertical relations/ average rates/ minimum/maximum values, etc..
etimation errors: the estiamted value is not within a plausible range of the per capita values by unit
The qualified checking of original respondent data, contacts to reporting units for corrections and the usage of sophisticated plausibility routines shall minimize the processing errors on micro-data-level.
B) Treatment on macro-data-level
Final checks with analyze-tables (aggregates / more complex relations). These tables include all variables of the STS-survey. The macro data tabled are verified by computer programs but also by the staff whether these macro-data as publication figures look plausible. The persons responsible for the index calculation have their own computer programs to test the index-plausibility of the different data at 3 and 2 digit level and for all aggregates. If inconsistencies are detected the data must be verified at micro-level again by using the raw data of the questionnaire.
Model effects, such as:
Imputation errors: the usage of previous period values tends to result in under or overestimating the real development (especially if big enterprises' values are missing). Therefore specific imputation methods for missing data are used to correct these errors.
Overcoverage / Undercoverage: Classification errors and Overcoverage are observed especially at the reference periods of January due to changes of the respondent units (i.e. deaths of enterprises, changes in enterprise structures, new classifications). Undercoverage: One of the reasons is the loss of responding units due to false classifications and the difficulty to find alternative enterprises during the reference year, yet it is not possible to quantify the under coverage rate.
Recommendations previewed in the Final Report of the Task Force Retail Trade Quality are applied to all indicators, mainly book 3.
The response rate is normally very high for the first release, nevertheless in case of non-response the largest units are contacted by telephone and units may also be contacted by fax. Ultimately a fine may be imposed.
14.1. Timeliness
Services: This indicator is released 40 to 42 days after the end of the reference period.
For all indices, the monthly data is considered to be definitive one year after the end of the calendar year in which the reference month falls. Revisions are made to the two previous periods.
Timetable of data collection:
Questionnaires are sent around the 25th of the reference month. The enterprises are requested to answer within 10 days (calendar days) of the end of the reference month.
14.2. Punctuality
STS deadlines have been respected.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
Due to harmonized STS indices in the European Union, it is possible to compare Portuguese aggregates with those of other European countries. There is no regional desegregation, but all national territory is covered, including the AR’s (Azores and Madeira).
15.2. Comparability - over time
To ensure comparability over time, it is tried to keep the data base as steady as possible. STS indices are compared over time (previous month and year). Comparisons with NA accounts (quarter and annual) are made every 2 years. Base 2021 series have been back casted until 2005. Base 2010 series have been back casted until 2005. section L and total only start in 012021.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
Cross-checks with absolute STS-values (previous month and year). At the first release moment no other data is available for comparisons. At the end of each year an annual trend is compared with the trend of the administrative source IES/SBS.
15.4. Coherence - internal
Aggregate levels derive from weighting 3 digit level indices (not published).
according to a questionnaire send to all companiesin the sample in 2023:
Services: cost burden can only be measured for the whole variables 120 and 230. burden 14723 hours. Response rate 49,3%
17.1. Data revision - policy
The document “Politica de Revisões” (revision policy) contains the guidelines to follow. This document can be found following the link: Revisions policy
In the particular case all STS indicators in every reference period m, m-1 and m-2 are revised and the revisons are published at the same time as the press release (notes). in m+15 (in the press release of March of the following year) all year is revised and closed. Only in case of 'extraordinary revision' data will be reopened.
the same revision is applied both to data released nationally and to data transmitted to Eurostat
17.2. Data revision - practice
When the data of a new period is disseminated, data from the two previous periods are revised. In March of each year all periods of the previous year are revised. An explanatory note in Destaque - Informação à Comunicação Social - refers each month precisely to the revisions.
Period: From January 2023 to December 2025
QPI
TOS_N
Total
H
I
J
L*
N
M
MAR
0,4
0,6
1,1
1,3
4,0
1,1
0,9
RMAR
0,1
0,1
0,2
0,4
0,2
0,2
0,1
MR
0,2
0,1
1,0
0,4
2,0
0,2
0,3
MaxAR
1,7
2,6
9,5
8,4
15,0
9,1
10,4
18.1. Source data
Type of source: Data are obtained through statistical surveys and Administrative Source (Social Security) for employment and wages and salaries of the units in the sample.
Frame on which the source is based: The General Register of Statistical Units (FGUE – Ficheiro Geral de Unidades Estatísticas).
Sample of census: Industry, Construction, Retail Trade, Services are stratified sample surveys.
Criteria for stratification:
The reference universe of these surveys are composed by enterprises whose NACE is between code’s “05” and “82”, with exception of the division 41, 42 and 43 (Construction), 64. 65 and 66 from section K (Financial and Insurance Activities)
First, the reference population represents all the statistical units recorded on the General Register of Statistical Units (FGUE – Ficheiro Geral de Unidades Estatísticas), whose last update for the variables total turnover and persons employed occurred in the previous 3 years of the reference year.
On a second phase of selection, quartiles of accumulated value of number of persons employed (NPS), turnover (VVN) and exports are calculated, by NACE groups. Then, all units whose NPS and VVN are inferior, simultaneously, to the first quartile calculated by NACE are excluded of the sample. Exceptions are made for units with exports values equal or higher than the respective quartile, new units, or unit units with more than 150 employees.
According to Eurostat recommendations, the sample must guarantee around 80% of the total turnover by economical activity. Therefore, the sampling frame only contains units whose turnover is equal or higher than a maximum value calculated between the 20% quintile and EUR 150.000.
The sizing of the sample is made in order to guarantee one definitive degree of precision of the estimates by stratum. In general, the sample is dimensioned tolerating a maximum coefficient of variation of 25% in each stratum. As reference to the intended precision, it is considered the variation of the statistics of the total for the variables of stratification number of persons employed and turnover.
Some criteria of exhaustiveness are applied, considering of obligator inquiry the companies whose accumulated value, of number of persons employed and turnover is superior to 80% or 90% of the total of these variables, depending on the grouping of NACE for diffusion.
Every year a new base of sampling is constituted, considering the relative alterations to the relevance of the companies in the activity where they belong, as well as the questions related with the demography of the companies. The update of the sample is made annually, renewing about 20% of the current sample.
Although the necessity to keep some stability in the calculation of the indices, we considered that the enumerated criteria adapts to the volatileness of the market and the reality of each sector of activity.
Services: The sample has 3028 units
Threshold values and percentages:
No threshold is applied.
Frequency of updating the sample:
Annually: a new sample is designed and with March release this new sample is incorporated in the indices. Each month the sample is updated for deaths and, when a given stratum loses representativeness (coefficient of variation below 20%) new units are included.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Data are collected on a monthly basis
18.3. Data collection
Questionnaires used in the survey:
There is only one questionnaire - online, that allows all enterprises to reply according to their NACE code.
Industry: The questionnaires that are used to collect data for this indicator collect the following variables: turnover (total, domestic market, EU countries and non-EU countries), sales of products, sales of merchandise, sales of manufactured products, value of the services provided, number of persons employed, number of hours worked, wages and salaries orders at the beginning of the period, new orders received, orders cancelled, orders satisfied in the period and stock of orders.
Construction: The questionnaires used to collect data for this indicator collect the following variables (except for group 41.1):number of persons employed (total workers, administrative, owner that works), split by construction of buildings and civil engineering, wages and salaries (total, workers, administrative, owner that works), split by construction of buildings and civil engineering. For group 41.1 turnover, total employment, hours worked and wages and salaries are collected.
Retail Trade: The questionnaires that are used to collect data for this indicator collect the following variables: turnover, number of persons employed, number of hours worked, wages and salaries.
Services: The questionnaires that are used to collect data for this indicator collect the following variables: turnover, number of persons employed, number of hours worked, wages and salaries.
Planned changes in national questionnaires: reduce burden
Data collection media:The survey is carried out by an electronic questionnaire
Planned changes in data collection methodology: Improving validation online in web questionnaires
18.4. Data validation
Comparisons on line with previous month and n-12. Off line comparisons within the stratum of companies are done. Data is validated off line with previous and n-12 months.
Automatic estimates considerer the following situations:
A) the unit was in the sample already in n-12 and n-13 - estimation n = n-1*(n-12/n-13);
B) the unit was in the sample already in n-12 but not in n-13 - estimation n uses auxiliary variable of the ansewrs in stratum n/n-12 *n -1(of the unit);
C) the unit was not in the sample neither n-12 neither n-13 - estimation n uses auxiliary variable of the ansewrs in stratum n/n-1n*n-1(of the unit);
D) = A but n-12 or n-13 =0 (it occurs in turnover non euro zone - extracomunitary market
Manual expert estimation of non-response is allowed.
The document IVNE_estimation of non-response (only in portuguese) describes in all detail the estimation for turnover as for social variables
Estimates for grossing-up to population levels:
The sample results are grossed up taling into account the number of enterprises in the Population and in the sample for each stratum.
Type of index:All indices are expressed in a Laspeyres index type and refer to a rate of change in the latest period compared to the previous period.
Estimates for grossing-up to population levels:
The sample results are grossed up taking into account the number of enterprises in the Population and in the sample for each stratum.
Type of index: All indices are expressed in a Laspeyres index type and refer to a rate of change in the latest period compared to the previous period.
Method of weighting and chaining:
Services: the weighting factor is the Total turnover for the 3-digit level of NACE Rev.2 obtained from the administrative data IES (informação empresarial simplificada) and IRS (income tax) confronted with national accounts values.
Planned changes in production methods: Chaining indices with moving weights.
The monthly Turnover Series for Services are working days and calendar effect adjusted, and seasonally adjusted, using JDemetra, Tramo-Seats and ARIMA X12.
For services in base 2021 TOVT and TOVV - raw data are seasonally adjusted in way to guarantee that also the seasonality of Prices is not included in the final indices. For TOVV series are still to short and so same factores from nominal models are used.
Turnover comprises separately charged costs, invoices, packaging as well discounts and other reductions. Information is collected concerning total turnover. All the definitions are according to the Commission Regulation no. 588/2001.
KAU (Kind-of-activity-unit).
The sample is composed by both exhaustive and random parts. The exhaustive segment corresponds to the last quintile of either the turnover or number of employees (defined at 5 digits of NACE Rev. 2).
Services: all units in business register in Sections H to N of NACE Rev.2 excluing Sections K and L of NACE Rev.2 Sample Frame: 70598 Units reporting: 3042 for Base Year 2021 year 2024.
FOR section L - adminnitrative sourece e-invoice is used instead of sample and is considered to be exhaustive
Portugal - All the economic territory is included
Month
Period
Services
Jan-25
12,8
Feb-25
9,3
Mar-25
9,1
Apr-25
8,0
May-25
12,1
Jun-25
8,5
Jul-25
9,9
Aug-25
7,7
Sep-25
8,4
Oct-25
7,0
Nov-25
9,2
Dec-25
8,0
Average
9,2
Indices
Estimates for non-response:
Automatic estimates considerer the following situations:
A) the unit was in the sample already in n-12 and n-13 - estimation n = n-1*(n-12/n-13);
B) the unit was in the sample already in n-12 but not in n-13 - estimation n uses auxiliary variable of the ansewrs in stratum n/n-12 *n -1(of the unit);
C) the unit was not in the sample neither n-12 neither n-13 - estimation n uses auxiliary variable of the ansewrs in stratum n/n-1n*n-1(of the unit);
D) = A but n-12 or n-13 =0 (it occurs in turnover non euro zone - extracomunitary market
Manual expert estimation of non-response is allowed.
The document IVNE_estimation of non-response (only in portuguese) describes in all detail the estimation for turnover as for social variables
Estimates for grossing-up to population levels:
The sample results are grossed up taling into account the number of enterprises in the Population and in the sample for each stratum.
Type of index:All indices are expressed in a Laspeyres index type and refer to a rate of change in the latest period compared to the previous period.
Estimates for grossing-up to population levels:
The sample results are grossed up taking into account the number of enterprises in the Population and in the sample for each stratum.
Type of index: All indices are expressed in a Laspeyres index type and refer to a rate of change in the latest period compared to the previous period.
Method of weighting and chaining:
Services: the weighting factor is the Total turnover for the 3-digit level of NACE Rev.2 obtained from the administrative data IES (informação empresarial simplificada) and IRS (income tax) confronted with national accounts values.
Planned changes in production methods: Chaining indices with moving weights.
Type of source: Data are obtained through statistical surveys and Administrative Source (Social Security) for employment and wages and salaries of the units in the sample.
Frame on which the source is based: The General Register of Statistical Units (FGUE – Ficheiro Geral de Unidades Estatísticas).
Sample of census: Industry, Construction, Retail Trade, Services are stratified sample surveys.
Criteria for stratification:
The reference universe of these surveys are composed by enterprises whose NACE is between code’s “05” and “82”, with exception of the division 41, 42 and 43 (Construction), 64. 65 and 66 from section K (Financial and Insurance Activities)
First, the reference population represents all the statistical units recorded on the General Register of Statistical Units (FGUE – Ficheiro Geral de Unidades Estatísticas), whose last update for the variables total turnover and persons employed occurred in the previous 3 years of the reference year.
On a second phase of selection, quartiles of accumulated value of number of persons employed (NPS), turnover (VVN) and exports are calculated, by NACE groups. Then, all units whose NPS and VVN are inferior, simultaneously, to the first quartile calculated by NACE are excluded of the sample. Exceptions are made for units with exports values equal or higher than the respective quartile, new units, or unit units with more than 150 employees.
According to Eurostat recommendations, the sample must guarantee around 80% of the total turnover by economical activity. Therefore, the sampling frame only contains units whose turnover is equal or higher than a maximum value calculated between the 20% quintile and EUR 150.000.
The sizing of the sample is made in order to guarantee one definitive degree of precision of the estimates by stratum. In general, the sample is dimensioned tolerating a maximum coefficient of variation of 25% in each stratum. As reference to the intended precision, it is considered the variation of the statistics of the total for the variables of stratification number of persons employed and turnover.
Some criteria of exhaustiveness are applied, considering of obligator inquiry the companies whose accumulated value, of number of persons employed and turnover is superior to 80% or 90% of the total of these variables, depending on the grouping of NACE for diffusion.
Every year a new base of sampling is constituted, considering the relative alterations to the relevance of the companies in the activity where they belong, as well as the questions related with the demography of the companies. The update of the sample is made annually, renewing about 20% of the current sample.
Although the necessity to keep some stability in the calculation of the indices, we considered that the enumerated criteria adapts to the volatileness of the market and the reality of each sector of activity.
Services: The sample has 3028 units
Threshold values and percentages:
No threshold is applied.
Frequency of updating the sample:
Annually: a new sample is designed and with March release this new sample is incorporated in the indices. Each month the sample is updated for deaths and, when a given stratum loses representativeness (coefficient of variation below 20%) new units are included.
Services: monthly, 42-45 days after the end of reference period
Services: This indicator is released 40 to 42 days after the end of the reference period.
For all indices, the monthly data is considered to be definitive one year after the end of the calendar year in which the reference month falls. Revisions are made to the two previous periods.
Timetable of data collection:
Questionnaires are sent around the 25th of the reference month. The enterprises are requested to answer within 10 days (calendar days) of the end of the reference month.
Due to harmonized STS indices in the European Union, it is possible to compare Portuguese aggregates with those of other European countries. There is no regional desegregation, but all national territory is covered, including the AR’s (Azores and Madeira).
To ensure comparability over time, it is tried to keep the data base as steady as possible. STS indices are compared over time (previous month and year). Comparisons with NA accounts (quarter and annual) are made every 2 years. Base 2021 series have been back casted until 2005. Base 2010 series have been back casted until 2005. section L and total only start in 012021.
