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.
FPS Economy, SMEs, self-employed and Energy , Direction générale Statistique - Statistics Belgium
1.2. Contact organisation unit
Direction Thématique Economie ( DTE )
1.3. Contact name
Confidential because of GDPR
1.4. Contact person function
Confidential because of GDPR
1.5. Contact mail address
North Gate Boulevard du Roi Albert II 16, 1000, Bruxelles.
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
9 February 2026
2.2. Metadata last posted
30 June 2026
2.3. Metadata last update
30 June 2026
3.1. Data description
Turnover and volume of sales indices provide a short-term indication of changes in activity in the trade sector.
The majority of data comes from the tax administration (VAT returns). The other part is a survey.
The CPI (Consumer Price Index) prices are used to calculate volume of sales. When CPI prices are not available, proxys are used like industry output prices to calculate volume of sales.
3.2. Classification system
Statistical classification of economic activities in the European Community (NACE Rev. 2).
3.3. Coverage - sector
Turnover and volume of sales indices cover divisions 45, 46 and 47 of NACE Rev. 2 2008.
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
Turnover defined as in Commission Regulation 2020/1197.
3.5. Statistical unit
The reporting unit is the enterprise.
3.6. Statistical population
All enterprises with NACE division 45, 46 and 47 with a turnover threshold per NACE category.
For retail trade, +/-140 companies are surveyed monthly.
3.7. Reference area
All regions are covered.
3.8. Coverage - Time
Time series cover the period from 1998.
3.9. Base period
2021.
Index.
Month.
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
The Law of 12 October 2015 (Arrêté royal du 12 octobre 2015/Koninklijk besluit van 12 oktober 2015) regarding retail trade.
The legal basis for this indicator is the European Business Statistics (EBS) Regulation:
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 statistics (General Implementing Act)
Belgium provides indices on turnover and volume of sales for retail trade (Nace-code G47), wholesale trade (Nace-codes G45 and G46) and trade (G) to Eurostat on a monthly basis from reference year 2021 onwards.
6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing
Data are sent to Eurostat.
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
The Law of 4 July 1962 (concerning public statistics, amended by the Law of 1 August 1985 and by the Law of 21 December 1994 containing social and miscellaneous provisions).
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
No problem of confidentiality.
8.1. Release calendar
Release dates are fixed in advance for a calendar year.
8.2. Release calendar access
The calendar release is available at this website:
Users can consult and download all the available series. The transmission to Eurostat is made using the SDMX format.
Monthly.
10.1. Dissemination format - News release
There are news on this indicator available on Dutch, French, English and German versions. In these news the index of deflated turnover (total) is compared to the same month of year before.
The latest version of these news is available here :
For each step of the production chain, the data are controlled. Once the figures produced, they are validated by our internal validation service before publication.
11.2. Quality management - assessment
Checks carried out along the production chain of the indices and these are finally validated by our validation service before diffusion. Eurostat’s requirements are fulfilled and the quality is good.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
Belgian national bank, Eurostat, Federations, Professional associations, Universities, Regional public services, Other users.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
No measure of satisfaction but sometimes feedback of users.
12.3. Completeness
All of the required series are available.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
Monthly tax returns cover about 95% of the returns. The quality of the results at 30 days and 45 days after the end of the reference period are good.
13.2. Sampling error
Not available.
13.3. Non-sampling error
There are no actions to speed up or increase the rate of response; we use an administrative source.
For the 140 companies surveyed in retail trade, they are contacted in case of delays.
14.1. Timeliness
For retail trade the results are released within 1 month after the reference period.
For wholesale trade and trade (G) the results are released within 2 months after the reference period.
14.2. Punctuality
Generally, there is no problem of punctuality with these results.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
The definitions are equally applied to the 3 regions of Belgium.
15.2. Comparability - over time
No problem of over time comparability.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
No regular confrontation is made, but comparisons are made on an ad-hoc basis, especially when results seem contrary to expectations.
15.4. Coherence - internal
No problem of internal coherence.
Estimated burden on respondents
0.25 h * 140 (respondents) *12 *41€( hourly rate) =17220€
Cost associated with the collection and production of the turnover index
~3 persons for ~600 hours/year
17.1. Data revision - policy
We try to avoid major revisions by using a "Nace Alert"-system. This system informs us on a monthly basis of possible changes in the Nace-codes of the legal entities in our business register and allows us to better monitor them. Currently a revision calender does not exist. If a revision is necessary, it will be applied to all data, both data published nationally and data transmitted to Eurostat.
17.2. Data revision - practice
At the beginning of 2021 a major revision of all retail trade series since 2010 has been carried out to apply the new guidelines of Eurostat (FRIBS). A warning has been published on our web site with explanations about this revisions (Statbel retail trade revisions). On that page look for "More Info".
MR (average revision) and MAR (average absolute revision) are calculated for G47 :
MR = 1.2
MAR=1.2
18.1. Source data
The data source is the VAT returns of enterprises to the FPS Finances supplemented by a monthly survey of +/- 140 major enterprises.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Data are collected monthly.
18.3. Data collection
Collection of VAT returns from FPS Finances.
Two types of questionnaires are used for the survey part. The criteria for determining which part of the target population receives which questionnaire is the Law of 12 October 2015.
The data of these questionnaires are collected by a web application. The management of the questionnaires is carried out in our operating system : when a questionnaire is validated by the responding unit, it is granted a temporary status. An agent in our collect center must then validate the questionnaire before having a status ok. The validation is made based on the past values.
18.4. Data validation
Checks are carried out at the time of data collection and throughout the production chain indices. These are also validated by another service before distribution. Collected data are daily transferred from the operating system in a datawarehouse. An error reporting with several information (included months for the different survey, included estimations, ...) is sent to all users everyday. Then, a sas program allows to check the variation of the different variables for a statistical unit and allows to identify problems. If a problem is detected, the collect center is contacted. If a problem is detected, the collect center is contacted. In function of the respons and the remaining time before the publication, the declaration is corrected or estimated for the calculation. Final tables are validated by our validation service : format, content, missing informations, layout of press release,...are verified. If results appear abnormal, the validation service recontacts the responsible for verification.
18.5. Data compilation
Estimates for non-response : For exhaustive units, time series methods are used;
Estimates for grossing-up to population levels : Calibration methodology is used;
Type of index : The turnover index is a simple value index;
Method of weighting and chaining : Weights are calculated with calibration methods;
Planned changes in production methods : None.
18.6. Adjustment
Seasonal and calendar adjustments
All series are adjusted using JDemetra+ 2.2.4.
Not available.
Turnover and volume of sales indices provide a short-term indication of changes in activity in the trade sector.
The majority of data comes from the tax administration (VAT returns). The other part is a survey.
The CPI (Consumer Price Index) prices are used to calculate volume of sales. When CPI prices are not available, proxys are used like industry output prices to calculate volume of sales.
30 June 2026
Turnover defined as in Commission Regulation 2020/1197.
The reporting unit is the enterprise.
All enterprises with NACE division 45, 46 and 47 with a turnover threshold per NACE category.
For retail trade, +/-140 companies are surveyed monthly.
All regions are covered.
Month.
Monthly tax returns cover about 95% of the returns. The quality of the results at 30 days and 45 days after the end of the reference period are good.
Index.
Estimates for non-response : For exhaustive units, time series methods are used;
Estimates for grossing-up to population levels : Calibration methodology is used;
Type of index : The turnover index is a simple value index;
Method of weighting and chaining : Weights are calculated with calibration methods;
Planned changes in production methods : None.
The data source is the VAT returns of enterprises to the FPS Finances supplemented by a monthly survey of +/- 140 major enterprises.
Monthly.
For retail trade the results are released within 1 month after the reference period.
For wholesale trade and trade (G) the results are released within 2 months after the reference period.
The definitions are equally applied to the 3 regions of Belgium.
