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.
Directorate "Business Statistics" Trade and Services
1.3. Contact name
Confidential because of GDPR
1.4. Contact person function
Confidential because of GDPR
1.5. Contact mail address
Guglgasse 13 A-1110 Wien
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
15 June 2026
2.2. Metadata last posted
15 June 2026
2.3. Metadata last update
15 June 2026
3.1. Data description
Index of turnover.
The purpose of this indicator is to reflect the short-term development of turnover in the relevant categories of NACE Rev. 2. The index is based on absolute values in unit 1,000 Euro.
3.2. Classification system
NACE Rev. 2.
3.3. Coverage - sector
The indicators cover economic activities of NACE Rev. 2 Section G in the breakdown required by EBS-R. There is no threshold in terms of size criteria. Turnover for the NACE Divisions G45 and G46 are based on a cut-off census. The threshold is set at a yearly turnover of at least 100,000 Euro.
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
Generally, the definitions of turnover correspond to those provided for in the "Methodology of Short Term Business Statistics" produced by Eurostat. Turnover excludes VAT and is derived from monthly preliminary VAT return for most of the enterprises; survey data is available for a subsample of enterprises. The reference period is the turnover flow during the calendar month excluding VAT. The deflated index represents the value of turnover in constant prices.
3.5. Statistical unit
Either the enterprise (= legal unit in the Business Register (BR)) or the KAU is reporting unit and observation unit.
3.6. Statistical population
The target population are all active enterprises in the BR in NACE Rev. 2 Section G at the end of the relevant reference months. The BR covers enterprises with at least one employee or 10,000 Euro yearly turnover. The frame is a file extracted from the BR with every base year change and is updated with births and deaths of enterprises every month. Total population for Section G is about 73,000 enterprises.
3.7. Reference area
The geographical area covered is Austria as a whole.
3.8. Coverage - Time
Time series available for all aggregates of NACE Rev. 2 required by EBS-R:
Time series according to the NACE Rev. 2 with base year 2021=100 are available from 01/2021
Time series according to the NACE Rev. 2 with base year 2015=100 are available from 01/2010 to 12/2023
Time series according to the NACE Rev. 2 with base year 2010=100 are available from 01/2005 to 12/2017
Time series according to the NACE Rev. 2 with base year 2005=100 are available from 01/2000 to 12/2012
3.9. Base period
Base year: 2021 Reference year: 2025
Index of turnover. No absolute figures are published.
Monthly turnover.
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
"Federal Statistics Act 2000" ("Bundesstatistikgesetz 2000", Federal Law Gazette I No. 163/1999 as amended)
Regulation on short-term statistics in the service sector, BGBl II no. 233/2003 as amended
Regulation (EU) 2019/2152 of the European Parliament and of the Council on European business statistics
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197 laying down technical specifications and arrangements
6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing
No data is transmitted to other international organisations (except Eurostat).
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
The legal base for statistical confidentiality is:
The general obligation to publish statistics and the strict provision on statistical confidentiality is regulated by the "Federal Statistics Act 2000" ("Bundesstatistikgesetz 2000") in the current version
The protection of personal data is covered by the "Data Protection Act 2000" ("Datenschutzgesetz 2000 (DSG 2000)", in the current version)
Regulation on short-term statistics in the service sector, BGBl II no. 233/2003 as amended
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
Aggregated figures consisting of data of less than three enterprises are regarded confidential and therefore not published. In general, published STS aggregates are not confidential.
8.1. Release calendar
A release calendar covering release dates of the first/second half of the year is published on the website of Statistics Austria. News releases are announced in the release calendar as well.
Release is simultaneous. Along with the national release on the website of Statistics Austria and the data transmission to Eurostat the most important national users (Austrian Central Bank, Austrian Institute of Economic Research etc.) are informed separately. No prior access before official data release.
The "Federal Statistics Act 2000" ("Bundesstatistikgesetz 2000" in the current version) explicitly states in §30 (3) the obligation of Statistics Austria to inform without delay the Federal Ministry responsible for the subject matter concerned about the results of statistical surveys and to publish them simultaneously.
According to the release calendar of Eurostat the data is transmitted to Eurostat.
Data for divisions G45, G46 and G47 is transmitted monthly to Eurostat and disseminated monthly to national users.
10.1. Dissemination format - News release
In general, a press release is published, featuring the key figures. Press releases are issued online on the website of Statistics Austria at 9 a.m. Austrian local time.
Website of Statistics Austria: STATISTIK AUSTRIA – Industry, construction, trade and services – Short-term business statistics
STATcube database
Variables and breakdown of results as required by EBS-R.
10.3. Dissemination format - online database
The STATcube database can be found on the website of Statistics Austria: STATISTIK AUSTRIA – Databases / STATcube - statistical database (STATcube: Short-term indices trade (base 2021)). This database is updated with every publication and published for the NACE Rev. 2. levels as presented in point 3.3. The time series goes back till 2021. All indices, including calendar and seasonally adjusted are provided. Monthly, quarterly and yearly results are available.
10.4. Dissemination format - microdata access
No microdata available.
10.5. Dissemination format - other
Data is sent to Eurostat.
10.6. Documentation on methodology
Metadata and quality reports:
Statistical News 10/2013: "Short Term Statistics Trade and Services: Base year 2010 and new variables" (only available in German)
Standardised metadata and quality report for Short Term Statistics in Trade and Services (only available in German)
Conceptual overview available on the website: STATISTIK AUSTRIA – Industry, construction, trade and services – Short-term business statistics – Turnover index – Further documentation.
10.7. Quality management - documentation
Metadata and quality reports:
Statistical News 10/2013: "Short Term Statistics Trade and Services: Base year 2010 and new variables" (only available in German)
Standardised metadata and quality report for Short Term Statistics in Trade and Services - (only available in German)
11.1. Quality assurance
Quality checks and validation of data are done throughout the whole compilation process. This is described in the standardised metadata and quality report for Short Term Statistics in Trade and Services on the website of Statistics Austria. The chapter "Quality" of this report contains the following points:
Following relevant changes discussions with national experts and the Quality Committee of the Statistical Council of Statistics Austria are held for feedback and modification suggestions.
11.2. Quality management - assessment
Index is based on suitable data, regular meetings with decision-making bodies and users take place. Publication of results according to the release calendar. Further methodological details and other information can be found in point 13.
Coverage of the index is the whole Austrian territory. Multiple plausibility checks concerning the legitimacy and cohesiveness of the data are done. Main quality problems consist of unit-non-response (due to the use of administrative data), NACE classification in the BR and different definitions for VAT and turnover.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
Short-term statistics are used by different national and international institutions and non-institutional users like media, enterprises, educational and research institutions and the public. Examples for national users are federal ministries, political institutions, interest groups and tourism associations but there is also an internal use by other statistics produced by Statistics Austria. International Institutions are e.g. European Commission, OECD, and the European Central Bank.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
No index for user satisfaction is available, but there are regular meetings with national experts and essential users to react to new requirements, if these are not in contrast with legal necessities or constraints. In addition, a user’s satisfaction survey takes place in periodic intervals. The survey 2013 has covered trade and services as a whole, ratings were from "very good" to "unsatisfactory" according to Austria's grade system in school.
Actuality was rated mostly "very good" or "good" by users (both clear above 30%, N=24), and periodicity was rated "very good" by more than 70% of the users (N=20). Scope and level of detail was rated "very good" by more of 50% and good by more than 20% (N=20). The availability of data was rated "very good" by more than 70% of the users (N=21), the comprehensibility of presentation and of metadata were rated "very good" by approx. 80% of the users (N=20, N=12). Accuracy was rated "very good" by over 60% and "good" by over 20% (N=22). Comparability was rated "very good" by nearly 60% and "good" by over 25% (N=22).
Every year, an advisory board for enterprise statistics is held where concepts and new developments are presented and discussed.
12.3. Completeness
This index is complete; there are no gaps or missing data parts.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
NACE Section G47: Impact of sampling error: 2.04%. (95% confidence level) Impact of non-sampling error: approx. 20% of the data is checked.
NACE Sections G45 and G46: Concept of a census, therefore no sampling errors. The following non-sampling error can occur: Due to the linkage of data from the Federation of Social Insurances with the BR and the data from the Contributions to the Family Burden Equalisation Fund (FLAF), a loss of data due to missing linkage can occur. Missing data is imputed. Turnover for the NACE Divisions G45 and G46 are based on a cut-off census. The threshold is set at a yearly turnover of at least 100,000 Euro.
First release of preliminary results for section G47 (retail trade) with t+30, final results with t+60.
13.2. Sampling error
NACE Section G47: Role of sampling: Stratified random sample of approximately 2,800 enterprises. For calculation of t+30 results, preliminary VAT return data is not sufficiently available, so a direct inquiry is made with a subsample of enterprises. From the approximately 1,100 inquiries, around 500 enterprises (unit-non-response-rate of first estimates) respond to this survey. Multiple use of sampling in production: This sample is used for calculation of turnover and deflated turnover. Coverage of main aggregates: For 2025 the sampling error was approximately 2.04% (95% confidence level). The coefficient of variation for Retail Trade (G47) in 2025 is 0.9% in January, 1.0% in February, 1.1% in March, 1.0% in April, 1.0% in May, 1.1% in June, 1.2% in July, 1.0% in August, 1.1% in September, 1.0% in October, 0.9% in November and 1.2% in December.
NACE Sections G45 and G46: Not applicable.
13.3. Non-sampling error
Coverage errors: Approximately 90% of the active enterprises in the whole BR can be linked to preliminary VAT return data. The missing 10% represent only about 2% of total turnover. Turnover for the NACE Divisions G45 and G46 is based on a cut-off census. The threshold is set at a yearly turnover of at least 100,000 Euro.
Data collection or access errors: In the case of group taxation, VAT declarations are available for the group head - distribution to different enterprises of the group has to be carried out manually. Dependence on the quality of the BR and the legal frame for timely preliminary VAT return data has to be considered as well.
Response rate (unit non-response)/item non-response: Unit non-response of preliminary VAT return. Available data is used as basis for imputation of missing data. In 2025 the unit non-response rate was 25.0%, these units are substituted based on the value of the previous year.
Editing, coding and imputation errors: In NACE activities with many small enterprises, the index can be influenced by imputation based on the design of the BR (minimum 10,000 Euro turnover per year or at least one employee).
Modelling errors: Slight differences in the definitions of the VAT and turnover from company accounts. Plausibility checks during data editing minimise these effects. Changes of NACE classification, new enterprises and inactive enterprises are checked for plausibility and impact on results as well.
14.1. Timeliness
In general, preliminary results are published about 30 days after the end of the reference month for the aggregates G47, G47 (without G473), G473, G4711+G472 and G4719+G474+G475+G476+G477+G478+G479. Final results are published about 60 days after the end of the reference month for all levels of detail according to EBS-R. Revision of the preliminary data with the publication of the final data.
14.2. Punctuality
NACE Section G47: In general, Statistics Austria provides t+30 results three days before Eurostat's publication date. An earlier transmission is not possible for every month. This is based on the fact that sufficient administrative data is not available at this point in time, so a survey among 1,100 enterprises (response rate about 45%) is done to provide the data required for index calculation. Final data (t+60) provided on time.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
For the whole Austrian territory, the same statistical concepts are applied.
15.2. Comparability - over time
Monthly time series available for all aggregates of NACE Rev. 2 required by EBS-R:
Time series with base year 2021 and NACE Rev. 2 from 01/2021
Time series with base year 2015 and NACE Rev. 2 from 01/2015 to 12/2023
Time series with base year 2010 and NACE Rev. 2 from 01/2005 to 12/2017
Time series with base year 2005 and NACE Rev. 2 from 01/2000 to 12/2012
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
Coherence is described in the standardised meta information and quality reports for each statistical product of Statistics Austria. The most important sources for cross checks are structural business statistics and other statistical products of Statistics Austria e.g. foreign trade statistics, price statistics, VAT statistics, statistics of registration of new and used vehicles, consumer price index, wholesale price index, services producer price index, statistics of overnight stays, social security statistics, national accounts, studies from economic research institutes, press releases. All indices (turnover, employment, hours worked and wage and salaries) are compared to assure consistency of developments.
15.4. Coherence - internal
Internal coherence is assured.
Data is mainly gathered from administrative sources, therefore no additional burden on enterprises. For enterprises inquired to report their turnover to the statistical survey, there should be no additional burden, since the definition is in line with the preliminary VAT return. However, the data has to be reported approximately 30 days earlier than the deadline for the preliminary VAT return.
17.1. Data revision - policy
In the course of routine revisions, preliminary results (t+30) for NACE Section G47 are revised with final results at t+60.
Revision of adjusted (calendar and seasonally adjusted) time series according to 18.6. Major Revisions like base year changes are done according to Eurostat's requirements. The revision calendar correlates to the publication of the monthly index.
Data transmitted to Eurostat is the same as published nationally. The same release policy is applied to national releases and transmissions to Eurostat.
17.2. Data revision - practice
Schedule is based on Eurostat's release calendar.
Benchmarking for the most important aggregates is done in regular intervals. Results are compared to other relevant internal and external statistics. Differences in definitions and concepts have to be considered in the course of interpretation of results.
Revisions and methodological changes are discussed with all involved decision-making bodies in advance and announced simultaneously. Data is stable.
NACE G47: Mean Absolute Revision (MAR) and Mean Revision (MR) of year-on-year growth rates for unadjusted and calendar adjusted and period-on-period growth rates for seasonally adjusted time series of G47:
Figures calculated using 36 periods starting 2023/01.
NACE Sections G45 and G46: No regular revisions for unadjusted (N) turnover, MR and MAR are 0.
18.1. Source data
NACE Section G47: Administrative and survey data is used for the enterprises in the sample (monthly preliminary VAT return from tax authorities; statistical survey for a small number of large enterprises (maximum 10% of the enterprises in the sample)). The BR is the frame on which the source is based. Sample design:
Stratification of population is conducted by 44 economic activities and four groupings of turnover size classes.
The total sample size (for Division G47) comprises about 2,800 enterprises. This amounts to about 5% of the population.
The sampling procedure applied was methodologically in accordance with a stratified random sampling in the course of which the sampling units were arranged within the strata. The selection of new enterprises is conducted monthly in an analogous manner.
Slight updates with births and deaths of enterprises are done every month. A new sample frame is used with the change of the base year.
NACE Section G45 and G46: Administrative sources (monthly preliminary VAT return from tax authorities) are used for the enterprises in the cut-off census. The business register is the frame on which the source is based. Sample design:
The main stratification of the population is conducted by 70 economic activities and four groupings of turnover size classes.
Turnover for the NACE Divisions G45 and G46 is based on a cut-off census. The threshold is set at a yearly turnover of at least 100,000 Euro.
The total size of the cut-off census for Divisions G45 and G46 comprises about 22,000 enterprises.
Slight updates with births and deaths of enterprises are done every month. A new sample frame is used with the change of the base year at five-year intervals.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Data is collected monthly. The reference period for the turnover is the whole month.
18.3. Data collection
Data sets with monthly preliminary VAT returns are transmitted from the Tax Authority electronically and linked with the enterprises of the BR. Large enterprises report their monthly turnover using a Web form for data transmission. For purposes of short-term statistics these two data sets are combined for further calculation of turnover indices in the relevant categories of NACE.
18.4. Data validation
Validation level 0: Mainly administrative data sources are used so structure of files and format of data are not checked explicitly. In the web data the dimension is checked.
Validation level 1: Every change of NACE Rev. 2. in the most detailed level, new enterprises and inactive enterprises are checked for plausibility and impact. Furthermore, considerable value-changes are checked.
Validation level 2: The actual reporting period is compared with the previous reporting period and the corresponding reporting period of the previous year. If there are any unexpected developments, the enterprise data is checked and possibly changed.
Validation level 3: The indices are compared to comprehend plausible and identify implausible developments. Furthermore, the indices are crosschecked with the number of persons employed of the same NACE Rev. 2. category.
Validation level 4: The results are compared with the annual structural business statistics and other statistical products of Statistics Austria e.g. foreign trade statistics, price statistics, preliminary VAT return statistics.
Validation level 5: The results are cross-checked with publications of other external institutions. Further comparisons are made with studies from economic research institutes and news releases.
18.5. Data compilation
Data transmitted from the tax authorities is linked to enterprises of the BR and extracted for purposes of STS; non-responses are estimated in the following way: missing data for the month t is estimated by multiplying the data of the previous year in the same month (t-12) by a stratum-specific factor. If a value for the same month of the previous year is not available, the value of the previous month (t-1) is taken into account. This way, gross data can be calculated for each category of NACE. To get an estimator of total turnover, the value of each enterprise is multiplied with a stratum-specific grossing up factor (this is the ratio of population size and sample size in each stratum). The values are summed up to each relevant category of NACE. The grossed-up results are used for the computation of the index and are not disseminated.
The index is calculated from the grossed-up totals and measures the turnover for each reference period and each subgroup as a percentage of the average value of the base year. Weights are updated in 5-year intervals with every base year change. Data is converted to SDMX and transmitted to Eurostat.
18.6. Adjustment
The turnover index is deflated using the appropriate price index from the wholesale price index or the consumer price index.
For seasonal and working day adjustment the R-Package persephone (based on RJDemetra) is used with X13-ARIMA. NACE aggregates are calculated by using the direct method. The model and regressors are fixed in the program once a year, coefficients are estimated whenever new data becomes available. The calendar adjustment is based on a country-specific calendar. The adjustment is performed within the RegARIMA part of the program, including regressors for easter effects and leap year.
The seasonal adjustment decomposition (additive vs. multiplicative) is done dependent on the series' characteristics; Outlier identification (additive Outliers, Level Shifts and Transitory Changes) and model selection is performed automatically, if the automatic choice is not considered adequate it is corrected manually; the whole series is revised every time a new value becomes available.
The purpose of this indicator is to reflect the short-term development of turnover in the relevant categories of NACE Rev. 2. The index is based on absolute values in unit 1,000 Euro.
15 June 2026
Generally, the definitions of turnover correspond to those provided for in the "Methodology of Short Term Business Statistics" produced by Eurostat. Turnover excludes VAT and is derived from monthly preliminary VAT return for most of the enterprises; survey data is available for a subsample of enterprises. The reference period is the turnover flow during the calendar month excluding VAT. The deflated index represents the value of turnover in constant prices.
Either the enterprise (= legal unit in the Business Register (BR)) or the KAU is reporting unit and observation unit.
The target population are all active enterprises in the BR in NACE Rev. 2 Section G at the end of the relevant reference months. The BR covers enterprises with at least one employee or 10,000 Euro yearly turnover. The frame is a file extracted from the BR with every base year change and is updated with births and deaths of enterprises every month. Total population for Section G is about 73,000 enterprises.
The geographical area covered is Austria as a whole.
Monthly turnover.
NACE Section G47: Impact of sampling error: 2.04%. (95% confidence level) Impact of non-sampling error: approx. 20% of the data is checked.
NACE Sections G45 and G46: Concept of a census, therefore no sampling errors. The following non-sampling error can occur: Due to the linkage of data from the Federation of Social Insurances with the BR and the data from the Contributions to the Family Burden Equalisation Fund (FLAF), a loss of data due to missing linkage can occur. Missing data is imputed. Turnover for the NACE Divisions G45 and G46 are based on a cut-off census. The threshold is set at a yearly turnover of at least 100,000 Euro.
First release of preliminary results for section G47 (retail trade) with t+30, final results with t+60.
Index of turnover. No absolute figures are published.
Data transmitted from the tax authorities is linked to enterprises of the BR and extracted for purposes of STS; non-responses are estimated in the following way: missing data for the month t is estimated by multiplying the data of the previous year in the same month (t-12) by a stratum-specific factor. If a value for the same month of the previous year is not available, the value of the previous month (t-1) is taken into account. This way, gross data can be calculated for each category of NACE. To get an estimator of total turnover, the value of each enterprise is multiplied with a stratum-specific grossing up factor (this is the ratio of population size and sample size in each stratum). The values are summed up to each relevant category of NACE. The grossed-up results are used for the computation of the index and are not disseminated.
The index is calculated from the grossed-up totals and measures the turnover for each reference period and each subgroup as a percentage of the average value of the base year. Weights are updated in 5-year intervals with every base year change. Data is converted to SDMX and transmitted to Eurostat.
NACE Section G47: Administrative and survey data is used for the enterprises in the sample (monthly preliminary VAT return from tax authorities; statistical survey for a small number of large enterprises (maximum 10% of the enterprises in the sample)). The BR is the frame on which the source is based. Sample design:
Stratification of population is conducted by 44 economic activities and four groupings of turnover size classes.
The total sample size (for Division G47) comprises about 2,800 enterprises. This amounts to about 5% of the population.
The sampling procedure applied was methodologically in accordance with a stratified random sampling in the course of which the sampling units were arranged within the strata. The selection of new enterprises is conducted monthly in an analogous manner.
Slight updates with births and deaths of enterprises are done every month. A new sample frame is used with the change of the base year.
NACE Section G45 and G46: Administrative sources (monthly preliminary VAT return from tax authorities) are used for the enterprises in the cut-off census. The business register is the frame on which the source is based. Sample design:
The main stratification of the population is conducted by 70 economic activities and four groupings of turnover size classes.
Turnover for the NACE Divisions G45 and G46 is based on a cut-off census. The threshold is set at a yearly turnover of at least 100,000 Euro.
The total size of the cut-off census for Divisions G45 and G46 comprises about 22,000 enterprises.
Slight updates with births and deaths of enterprises are done every month. A new sample frame is used with the change of the base year at five-year intervals.
Data for divisions G45, G46 and G47 is transmitted monthly to Eurostat and disseminated monthly to national users.
In general, preliminary results are published about 30 days after the end of the reference month for the aggregates G47, G47 (without G473), G473, G4711+G472 and G4719+G474+G475+G476+G477+G478+G479. Final results are published about 60 days after the end of the reference month for all levels of detail according to EBS-R. Revision of the preliminary data with the publication of the final data.
For the whole Austrian territory, the same statistical concepts are applied.
Monthly time series available for all aggregates of NACE Rev. 2 required by EBS-R:
Time series with base year 2021 and NACE Rev. 2 from 01/2021
Time series with base year 2015 and NACE Rev. 2 from 01/2015 to 12/2023
Time series with base year 2010 and NACE Rev. 2 from 01/2005 to 12/2017
Time series with base year 2005 and NACE Rev. 2 from 01/2000 to 12/2012
