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 index of turnover of trade describes the development in the turnover of enterprises engaged in trade.
It is an important short-term indicator used to analyse business cycle trends in trade and as an input for national accounts statistics.
Since January 2024, the base year has been changed to 2021, and the new observation unit is a kind-of-activity unit (KAU).
For G47, the data sources are the Monthly Retail Trade Report (TRG-1) and administrative data from the fiscalisation system. For G45 and G46, the data sources are the Monthly Service Activities Report (USL-M) and administrative VAT data.
For G 47 the following variables are collected:
monthly turnover with VAT for retail trade;
monthly turnover with VAT for other activities.
Variables are reported in euros.
Results are shown in the form of nominal (value indices) and real indices (volume indices). Value indices show turnover movements in current prices. Volume indices are calculated by deflating value indices by retail trade price indices of goods (without electricity and water distribution) according to consumer price indices.
According to Structural Business Statistics (SBS), within the entire non-financial services business sector, Division 47 accounts for 10% in the total number of business entities, with 26% in the overall turnover, with 17% in the total value added and with 21% in the total number of employees.
In Section G, retail trade (division 47) covers 40% of the total number of business entities, 40% of overall turnover and 46% in value added of the distributive trades.
Wholesale and retail trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (G 45), Wholesale trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles (G 46).
For G45 and G46, information is collected on turnover (excluding VAT) for the reference month and for the same month of the previous year. Results are shown in the form of nominal (value indices).
3.2. Classification system
NACE Rev. 2.
3.3. Coverage - sector
Retail trade (G47)
Since January 2024, the new observation unit is a kind-of-activity unit (KAU).
Division 47 of NACE Rev. 2 covers business entities (legal entities, tradesmen and freelancers) registered in the retailing trade as a main activity (Division 47 of NACE Rev. 2) as well as business entities whose main activity is not in the scope of the survey (NACE Rev. 2 Division 47), but they carry out significant secondary activities within the scope of this survey.
The sample for G47 covers all business entities employing 10 and more persons as well as business entities selected using the cut-off method employing less than 10 persons and covering 70% of the total turnover in each class of division 47 of the NKD 2007.
Wholesale and retail trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (G 45), Wholesale trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles (G 46)
Divisions 45 and 46 of NACE Rev. 2 cover business entities (legal units, tradesmen and free lances) if their prevailing activity is one of the following:
G 45 Wholesale and retail trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles;
G 46 Wholesale trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles.
The sample for G45 and G46 covers all medium-sized and large enterprises (sizes 5, 6 and 7) from the Statistical Business Register. Units marked in the Register as small ones are also included if they exceed the determined threshold according to the turnover.
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
Retail Trade (G 47)
The statistical variable provided is turnover. Information is collected on turnover (including VAT) for the reference month, split between i) from retail activities and ii) from other activities of a business entity. Information on retail stocks in the reference month is also collected.
businesses whose main activity is in Division 47 (retailers) report their total turnover, i.e. turnover from their main activity as well as from their secondary activities;
businesses engaged in retailing, but with main activity outside Division 47, report only turnover from retailing.
Turnover covers flows during the calendar month.
Deflated turnover or volume of sales represents the value of turnover in constant prices. It is calculated as turnover at current prices deflated by the deflator of sales.
Wholesale and retail trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (G 45), Wholesale trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles (G 46)
Statistical variable which is provided is turnover. Information is collected on turnover (excluding VAT) for the reference month and for the same month of the previous year.
The STS definition of turnover is used. Turnover is defined as a value of all goods sold and services provided on the market during a month, irrespective of whether paid for or not.
Business entities report their total turnover, i.e. turnover from their main activity as well as from their secondary activities.
Turnover covers flows during the calendar month.
3.5. Statistical unit
Since January 2024, the new observation unit is a kind-of-activity unit (KAU).
3.6. Statistical population
The target population consists of business entities (legal units, tradesmen and free lances) which are classified in the Division 47 by main activity, as well as selected business entities whose main activity is not in the scope of the survey (NACE Rev. 2 Division 47), but they carry out significant secondary activities within the scope of this survey, Division 45 by main activity and Division 46 by main activity.
The frame used to identify population units is the Statistical Business Register.
The 2025 frame for G47 consists of 18 106 units. The sample covers 5 152 units.
Frame for 2025 for G 45 and G 46 consists of 22211 units (14711 in G 46 and 7500 in G 45). Sample consists of 5408 units (4431 in G 46 and 977 in G45), of which 236 are included in the regular Monthly Report on Service Activities (USL-M form) (188 units in G 46 and 48 units in G 45).
3.7. Reference area
The geographical area covered is the Republic of Croatia.
3.8. Coverage - Time
The Monthly Retail trade survey for G 47 has been carried out since 1 January 1998. Comparable data series are available from 2000.
For the monthly series, the first reference period for which turnover indices for G45 and G46 were compiled was January 2010. Since January 2017, the Croatian Bureau of Statistics has supplemented the quarterly survey frequency with monthly measurement of turnover changes in G 45 and G 46
3.9. Base period
The base (reference) year is 2021.
Base year is renewed every five years.
Since January 2024 the indices are published with 2021 as the base year and the weights are also based on 2021.
From March 2024 onwards, Eurostat publishes indices with base year 2021. The whole time series is recalculated and rescaled accordingly.
For G 47, the variable for which data are collected is turnover, including VAT, expressed in euros. Only index numbers are disseminated as a result of the survey.
For G 45 and G 46, the variable for which data are collected is turnover, excluding VAT, expressed in euros.
Only index numbers are disseminated as a result.
The reference period is one month.
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
Reporting units are legally required to provide data under the Official Statistics Act. Penalties for non-response are regulated by the Law on Official Statistics, although they are rarely applied in practice.
6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing
Data series are transmitted to Eurostat monthly.
Volume Retail Sales Index, seasonally and calendar adjusted, is monthly transmitted (from 2010 onwards) to the Statistical Department of IMF. Since January 2024 the indices are transmitted with 2021 as the base year.
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
National legislation:
Under the Official Statistics Act (NN No. 25/20, 155/23 and 124/25 – corr.), the CBS cannot publish, or otherwise make available to any individual or organization, statistics that would enable the identification of data for any individual person or legal entity. Individual data are strictly confidential and must not be published or reported.
European legislation:
Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council, of 11 March 2009, on the transmission of data subject to statistical confidentiality to the Statistical Office of the European Communities.
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
Confidential data are treated according to policy rules (see point 7.1).
Data are not confidential at the classification level used in the monthly publication. Only aggregated data are published, from which individual data values cannot be identified.
8.1. Release calendar
Data are disseminated nationally according to a predefined, publicly accessible release calendar.
A release schedule for the coming year, specifying the release dates is published each December in the CBS Publishing Program.
The exact dates of release are pre-announced in the Calendar of Statistics Data Issues. It is available in both Croatian and English.
A release calendar for the year ahead is available on the statistical office's website.
The data publishing revision policy in the Croatian Bureau of Statisical includes the following:
1) Updating of the Calendar of Statistical Data Issues
2) Publishing of corrigenda for publishing data
1) Updating of the Calendar of Statistical Data Issues
The data publishing revision policy of the Croatian Bureau of Statistics, which is carried out according to the defined deadlines, is carried out by updating the Calendar of Statistical Data Issues. According to the Official Statistics Act, changes in the publishing deadlines for publications/data are announced in advance. The Croatian Bureau of Statistics is obliged to announce each change in the publishing deadlines (the Calendar update) at least three days prior to the date originally announced in the Calendar on the website of the Croatian Bureau of Statistics.
The update of the publishing deadlines for data or publications (the update of the Calendar) is announced without delay on the Croatian Bureau of Statistics’ website by updating the date in the Calendar and putting the notice beside the Calendar, which says: updated: (the accurate new date).
Therefore, the Calendar that contains the original publishing deadline for a particular publication/statistical information is replaced with the new Calendar which includes the updated publishing deadline. The original Calendar is kept in the Publishing Department which registers every change in publishing deadlines for publications in the Calendar Update Base.
2) Publishing of the corrigenda of the published data
In cases of error in the published data, the Croatian Bureau of Statistics announces the correction as soon and as clearly as possible in order to help the users to clearly see what was changed in comparison to the originally published data. The correction is carried out by marking the incorrect data with an asterisk and creating the corrigendum.
8.2. Release calendar access
Release calendar is available on the CBS website in Croatian and English language:
Data are simultaneously released to all interested parties at 11:00 by publication on the CBS website on the date specified in the Calendar of Statistical Data Issues.
There is no prior access to data before its release.
Data (as indices in unadjusted form, trend, SA (seasonally adjusted) and WDA (working day adjusted) form) are transmitted to Eurostat 30 days after the reference month.
Monthly.
10.1. Dissemination format - News release
Retail Trade (G47)
Data from the monthly retail trade survey are published in the First Release: "Retail trade", on the CBS website: Retail Trade.
News releases provide data on:
graph for volume retail trade turnover indices (gross, seasonally and working-day adjusted and working-day adjusted indices). Data are presented with 2021 as the base year (2021 = 100).
retail trade for the latest six months: value and volume of retail trade turnover (gross, non-adjusted)
month-on-month growth rates calculated on the basis of seasonally and working-day adjusted indices
year-on-year growth rates calculated on the basis of working-day adjusted indices
value and volume (seasonally and working-day adjusted, working-day adjusted) indices by main activity according to NACE Rev 2 (division 47 and special aggregates)
value indices of retail trade by branches (gross, non-adjusted).
Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (G), Wholesale and retail trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (G 45), Wholesale trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles (G 46)
Data for G, G 45 and G 46 are published in the First release Service activities, monthly on the CBS website: Service Activities.
The time series of the turnover indices of G 45 and G 46 are published on the website of the Croatian Bureau of Statistics www.dzs.hr in the STS Database (Short-Term Business Statistics Database) in the area Services under the headings Turnover indices of services activities − monthly data, and Turnover indices of services activities − quarterly data, on the link Reports and within Statistics in Line under the title Economy – Basic Indicators.
News releases provide data on:
nominal month-on-month growth rates calculated on the basis of seasonally and working-day adjusted indices;
nominal year-on-year growth rates calculated on the basis of working-day adjusted indices;
nominal seasonally and working-day adjusted, working-day adjusted indieces and gross unadjusted indices, on base year 2021=100.
A printed version of the First Release is available for a fee, in Croatian and English.
10.2. Dissemination format - Publications
Retail trade (G47)
Name of national paper publication - First releases: Retail trade;
Name of national electronic dissemination - First releases: Retail trade.
Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (G), Wholesale and retail trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (G 45), Wholesale trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles (G 46)
Name of national paper publication - First releases: Service Activities;
Name of national electronic dissemination - First releases: Service Activities.
10.3. Dissemination format - online database
Retail turnover (G 47)
Data for G 47 are available in PC-Axis database on the CBS website.
The following data series are available in the database: value and volume turnover indices for gross unadjusted indices; working-day adjusted indices; seasonally adjusted and trend monthly indices:
Retail trade turnover, according to the special NKD aggregates - available series from 2000:
Special NKD aggregates are:
Retail trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles
Retail trade, except of motor vehicles, motorcycles and fuel
Retail sale of food, beverages and tobacco
Retail sale of non-food products (including fuel)
Retail sale of non-food products (except fuel)
Retail sale of textiles, clothing, footwear and leather goods in specialised stores
Dispensing chemist, retail sale of medical and orthopaedic goods, cosmetic and toilet articles in specialised stores
Retail sale of computers, peripheral units and software, telecommunications equipment, etc. in specialised stores
Retail sale of audio and video equipment, hardware, paints and glass, electrical household appliances, etc. in specialised stores
Retail sale in non-specialised stores with food, beverages or tobacco predominating
Other retail sale in non-specialised stores
Retail sale of food, beverages and tobacco in specialised stores
Retail sale of automotive fuel in specialised stores
Retail sale via mail order houses or via the Internet
Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (G), Wholesale and retail trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (G 45), Wholesale trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles (G 46)
Data for G, G 45 and G 46 are available in Excel format on the web site of the Croatian Bureau of Statistics in the STS Database (Short-Term Business Statistics Database) in the area Services under the headings Turnover indices of services activities − monthly data, and Turnover indices of services activities − quarterly data, on the link Reports and within Statistics in Line under the title Economy – Basic Indicators.
10.4. Dissemination format - microdata access
Microdata are not disseminated.
10.5. Dissemination format - other
Data are transmitted to Eurostat to be used in the European aggregates as well as for the dissemination of national data through Eurostat’s dissemination system.
10.6. Documentation on methodology
Retail trade (G 47)
Short methodological explanations are available in the First release, available on the CBS website Retail Trade.
Data are presented as month-on-month and year-on-year indices and as indices relative to the base-year average (2021 = 100).
Indices are published in the gross unadjusted form, seasonally and working-day adjusted form and seasonally adjusted form.
On the CBS website a special publication is also available, Methodological Guidelines 69: Methodology for Monthly Survey on Retail Trade (TRG-1 form), which provides detailed methodological explanations for this survey Methodology TRG-1.
Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (G), Wholesale and retail trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (G 45), Wholesale trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles (G 46)
Indices are published in the gross, working day adjusted and seasonally adjusted forms and as a trend. Short methodological explanations are available in the First release, avaliable on the CBS website Service Activities.
10.7. Quality management - documentation
The goal of the Croatian Bureau of Statistics is to follow the European standards and consequently provide high quality statistics for national and European purposes.
The goal of the Croatian Bureau of Statistics is to follow the European standards and consequently provide high quality statistics for national and European purposes.
At the top of the pyramid of quality documentation is the Declaration of Quality of the European Statistical System, which is a partnership in which Eurostat and the national statistical authorities of each EU Member State and EFTA countries cooperate.
In order to achieve the main goal in the quality area, the European Statistics Code of Practice (CoP) sets the standard for developing, producing and disseminating national and European statistics. The CoP, as the European standard, enables the Croatian Bureau of Statistics to continually work with customers on statistical quality by ensuring customers information necessary for understanding the quality in statistics and by establishing a system that gives answers on how far the quality meets their needs.
The use of standardised tools and methodologies enables statistics to build quality in a way that it serves data providers, data owners, data producers and data users. One of the tools for organising, monitoring and improving quality is the Quality Assurance Framework of the European Statistical System (ESS QAF), which identifies possible activities, methods and tools for quality management as well as guidance and evidence for the implementation of the Code of Practice when developing, producing and disseminating European statistics.
11.2. Quality management - assessment
Overall quality assessment for this monthly survey, based on the available quality indicators is as follows:
Data are complete,as turnover data are provided for all NACE Rev. 2 activities and at all levels of aggregation required for small countries in Divisions G45, G46 and G47, in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2019/2152 and Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197;
Sample error in general is small;
Results of the Retail Trade Survey for G47 are disseminated to Eurostat on time (t+30) and published nationally according to the pre-announced release calendar;
Results for the G 45 and G 46 are disseminated to Eurostat on time (t+60) and published nationally according to the pre-announced release calendar.
The main problems which can influence results are:
increasing resistance of reporting units to report data;
dealing with constant market changes, especially organizational changes in reporting units which have impact on data comparability over time.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
The main users are government, financial institutions, economic analysts, media, researchers and students, enterprises, Eurostat and internal users (National accounts statistics).
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
User satisfaction is measured via CBS's web questionnaire on user satisfaction available on its website.
There is good cooperation with main users like Croatian National Bank, Chamber of Economy and Ministry for Economy.
CBS responds to all user's requests in a timely manner.
12.3. Completeness
Indicators are complete and fully in line with the concepts and definitions in methodology based on the Regulation (EU) 2019/2152 of the European Parliament and of the Council on European business statistics.
Index series, published nationally and transmitted to Eurostat are complete, with no gaps or missing data parts.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
Retail trade (G 47)
The accuracy is improved by eliminating as much as possible non-sampling errors.
The first estimates in general are not biased. The exception may occur for data for January when new sample is drawn and the first estimates are provided before all units from new sample respond.
The method used to select the sample is the cut-off method. The sample covers all business entities employing 10 and more persons as well as business entities selected using cut-off method employing less than 10 persons and covering 70% of the total turnover in each class of division 47 of the NKD 2007. Due to the application of the cut-off method for selecting the sample, the standard error and the coefficient of variation are not calculated.
Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (G), Wholesale and retail trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (G 45), Wholesale trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles (G 46)
The main sources of errors are sampling errors and non-sampling errors.
The main source for non-sampling errors is the accuracy of the sample frame. In order to update sample frame and to give feedback to Statistical Business Register, based on the information from the survey, units from the sample are classified as:
0 - runs business, refuse to report the data;
1 - runs business, report submitted;
2 - stopped running business;
3 - not engage in in the scope of the survey;
4 - dormant unit;
5 - bankruptcy;
6 - undeliverable;
7- does not perform specified service activity but some other service activity;
8- budget users;
9 - organizational changes (merge, splits etc.).
13.2. Sampling error
Retail trade (G47)
Since 2023, due to the application of the cut-off method for selecting the sample, the standard error and the coefficient of variation are not calculated.
In September 2025 coherence rate for G47 was -0,032 (the index differs from these two sources by 0,032 percentage points).
For G45 and G 46 sampling error is not available.
13.3. Non-sampling error
Retail Trade (G 47)
In September 2025 following indicators were calculated (unweighted) for Monthly retail trade survey:
Response rate 100 %
Non-response rate 0 %
Over-covearge rate 0.68 %.
The over-coverage rate include units which
stopped running business 0.35 %
do not perform retail trade 0.23 %
CBS does not have any information about units (undeliverable questionnaires) 0 %
Indicators are the same in time when data are provided to Eurostat and when data are first published nationally.
Response rate is 100% due to combination of two sources: electronic questionnaire and administrative data (fiscalisation database from tax authorities).
Item non-response is not relevant because respondents fill electronic (on-line) questionnaire with built in error checker which prevents sending questionnaire without data. At data entry essential errors are identified which force responding unit or administrator to eliminate them. If not the data could not be successfully sent to database.
Entered data in survey processor go through logical and calculation controls according to which data are then checked and if there is a need corrected by statistician.
Measures to reduce non-response: e-mail reminders, telephone contacts with reporting units.
There are units selected into the sample that do not meet the survey requirements due to the method of sample selection, reorganisations or other changes in their operation.
Sampling frame is one of the main sources of non-sampling errors. In order to update sample frame and to give a feedback to Statistical Business Register, during the survey each reporting unit is classified into the one of the following status:
Status 0 – runs business, refuses to submit a report
Status 1 – runs business, submitts report
Status 2 – stopped running business
Status 3 – not engaged in distributive trades activities
Status 4 – dormant
Status 5 – bankruptcy, liquidation
Status 6 – undeliverable questionnaire
Status 7 – outside the survey range (does not perform Retail trade, but it performs other distributive trade activities)
Status 8 - government budget user
Status 9 – other reasons (merger or other organisational changes).
14.1. Timeliness
Retail trade (G 47)
The first and final results are published 30 days after the end of the reference month.
In the case of data collection via Internet application, web application for reporting units is opened 20 days after the end of the reference month.
The survey is in general closed 24 days after the reference month.
Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (G), Wholesale and retail trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (G 45), Wholesale trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles (G 46)
Results are nationally published within approximately 60 days after the end of the reference period monthly and quarterly in Excel sheets in STS database and monthly in First Release.
From January 2019 results are disseminated to Eurostat 60 days after the end of the reference month and quarter.
The data are collected via a web-based application (the so-called CAWI). The reporting units enter data directly into the USL-M form, which is available on the web site of the Croatian Bureau of Statistics. The period for data collection ranges each month, as a rule, between the 1st and the 20th day of each month for data for the previous reference month.
VAT data are received from the Tax Administration 45 days after the end of the reference month.
The survey is in general closed 60 days after the reference month.
14.2. Punctuality
Data are published in accordance with pre-announced release calendar and there is no time lag between the actual delivery of the data and the target date when it should have been delivered.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
Same statistical concepts are applied in the entire national territory. There is no problem of geographical comparability.
15.2. Comparability - over time
Comparable data series are available from 2000 for G 47 and from 2010 for G 45 and G 46.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
The most important sources used to cross-check the turnover variable are: Structural Business Statistics, data on registration of vehicles.
15.4. Coherence - internal
Data are internally coherent. Higher-level aggregations are derived from detailed indices according to well-defined procedures. For all NACE areas covered by the survey, the same definition of turnover is used.
Monthly Retail Trade Survey
Cost to the CBS: approximately 4 800 hours annually.
Burden of respondents: approximately 14 min per respondent per month.
Monthly Survey on Service Activities
Cost of CBS: approximately 3 200 hours annually.
Burden of respondents: there is no information. In order to reduce the burden on reporting units, administrative sources are used as data sourcse for this survey.
Burden for reporting units is available only from 2018 which are conducted via Internet survey. Reporting units give information on time they spent to fill out the questionnaire only in the first month of the year. Average time spent as respondents to fill the USL-M surveys is approximately 0.10 hours per month.
17.1. Data revision - policy
The General Revision Policy of the Croatian Bureau of Statistics is based on the following documents:
European Statistics Code of Practise;
Quality Assurance Framework of the European Statistical System;
ESS Guidelines on Revision Policy for PEEIs.
The corrections of published data caused by technical errors, calculation errors, linguistic and other similar errors are not the subject of the Revision Policy of the Croatian Bureau of Statistics. When disseminating changes to already published statistical data, it is necessary to clearly indicate whether they are corrected data (due to technical or calculation errors) or revised data.
In order to ensure the transparency and availability of data, following the publication of the revised data, the Croatian Bureau of Statistics provides users with the previously published (original) data in the publishing media in which it is possible.
The "de facto revision policy" used for this survey includes:
for major revisions (such as change of base year) - all series are recalculated but changes are not announced in advance. Explanations are given when new data are published.
routine revisions (such as changes of SA and WDA data series) - revised data are published when new data are normally published without classified changed data as revised. There is only methodological explanation regarding the use of SA and WDA tools and its implication on changes of previously published data.
if errors occur, corrected data are published as soon as possible or in the next issue of the publication.
The same revision policy is applied internally and in transmission to Eurostat.
There is no availability of a vintage database.
Revision calendar exists - information covered under item 8.1.
The benchmarking is not carried out.
17.2. Data revision - practice
The types of revisions for this survey include:
major revisions (major changes in the methodology, base year change) - all series are recalculated but changes are not announced in advance. Revisions are announced in the First Release at the time the change is introduced and explanations are given when new data are published.
regular revisions (such as changes of SA and WDA data series ) - revised data are published each month in the First Release for the whole data series, when new data are normally published, without classified changed data as revised. There is only methodological explanation regarding usage SA and WDA tool and its implication on changes of previously published data.
Since January 2016, the software package JDemetra+, version 2.0.0 has been used in the process of seasonal adjustment (identification and evaluation of seasonal and calendar effects). Considering that there are two available options in the JDemetra+, TRAMO-SEATS (using the Seats method for estimating seasonal effects) and X13 (using the X11 method for estimating seasonal effects), seasonal and working-day adjustment has been done by using the X13 ARIMA method in this First Release. The effect of a random component in the seasonal adjustment process of time series of indices has been excluded.
Due to the character of the implemented seasonal adjustment method, the extension of the index series by adding new monthly observations for each new month could cause subsequent corrections of the already published seasonally and working-day adjusted indices and trend for several previous months.
elimination of errors: if errors occur, corrected data are published as soon as possible or in the next issue of the publication.
The same revision policy is applied nationally and in transmission to Eurostat.
There is no availability of a vintage database.
The benchmarking is not carried out.
The Mean Absolute Revision (MAR) and Mean Revision (MR) of year on year growth rates for unadjusted and calendar data for the period from January 2023 to December 2025 for G 47.
Because of change of base year first published date for series from January 2023 to December 2025 is January 2024.
MAR
MR
OR = ORIGINAL = Non Adjusted Data
0,000000
0,000000
CA = Calendar Adjusted Data
0,052365
0,001521
For unadjusted data MAR and MR are 0,0000.
18.1. Source data
Retail Trade (G 47)
The production of retail trade indices is based on the compilation of data from a monthly statistical survey and administrative data (Tax Administration fiscalisation file).
The frame on which the survey coverage is based is the Statistical Business Register.
The survey is carried out using the sampling method. The sample frame consists of business entities and parts thereof registered in the Statistical Business Register of the Croatian Bureau of Statistics. Since 2021, the sample selection frame has been expanded using an administrative data source (Tax Administration fiscalisation file).
Business entities are divided by their main activity on the basis of the NKD 2007 (NN, Nos 58/07 and 123/08). By size, they are divided into classes from 1 to 7.
By size, business entities are classified as folows:
Size class 1: 0-4 persons in employment
Size class 2: 5-9 persons in employment
Size class 3: 10-19 persons in employment
Size class 4: 20-49 persons in employment
Size class 5: 50-99 persons in employment
Size class 6: 100-249 persons in employment
Size class 7: 250 and more persons in employment.
The method used to select the sample is the cut-off method. The sample covers all business entities employing 10 and more persons as well as business entities selected by using cut-off method employing less than 10 persons and covering 70% of the total turnover in each class of division 47 of the NKD 2007. Due to the application of the cut-off method for selecting the sample, the standard error and the coefficient of variation are not calculated. The sample is updated every year.
Wholesale and retail trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (G 45), Wholesale trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles (G 46)
The dataset is based on a regular monthly statistical survey. Frame on which the source is based is Address list maintained by the statistics office, derived from the Statistical Business Register.
The survey is carried out by using the sampling method. The sample is selected once a year. It is based on size and on annual turnover of business entities for the previous year. All medium-sized and large enterprises (sizes 5, 6 and 7) are taken from the Statistical Business Register. Units marked in the Register as small ones are also included if they exceed the determined threshold according to their annual turnover. Information on size of business entities is obtained from the Statistical Business Register and data on annual turnover from the regular monthly survey (USL-M form) and from administrative data sources (data bases of value added tax reports). A subset of units that will be included into the regular survey (USL-M form) is selected from all units selected in the sample. A selection criterion has been determined according to a particular turnover threshold, which has to be covered by those units.
The criteria for stratification are the main activity and the size of business entity. The main activity is defined for each business entity according to NACE Rev 2. The size thresholds are based on the number of persons employed. According to their size, business entities are classified into the size-classes.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Monthly.
18.3. Data collection
Retail Trade (G 47)
Data are collected by on-line questionnaires and from administrative source - Tax Administration fiscalisation file. From the beginning of 2021 fiscalization data are used in the production process as a supplement to existing business survey data for micro and medium size units (business entities employing less than 10 persons and covering 70% of the total turnover in each class of division 47 of the NKD 2007).
Actions taken to speed up or increase the rate of response: re-contacts by mail (e-mail remainders), telephone contacts.
Wholesale and retail trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (G 45), Wholesale trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles (G 46)
The data are collected via a web-based application (the so-called CAWI) and via administrative data sources (data bases of value added tax reports). The reporting units enter data directly into the USL-M form, which is available on the web site of the Croatian Bureau of Statistics. The period for data collection ranges each month, as a rule, between the 1st and the 20th day in a month for the previous reference month data. Data can also be collected by e-mail instead of paper questionnaire. Responding units send paper questionnaires to CBS by post or by fax. The period for VAT data is 45 days after the end of the reference month.
Actions taken to speed up or increase the rate of response: automatic reminders sent through the web application, re-contact by mail or by e-mail (written reminders), telephone contacts.
18.4. Data validation
Retail Trade (G 47)
There is an automatic control during the entering data into the on-line questionnaire. At data entry essential errors are identified which force responding unit or administrator to eliminate them. If not, the data could not be successfully sent to database. Entered data go through logical and calculation controls in survey processor according to which data are then checked and if needed they are corrected by statisticians. There are specific rules that indicate if data are not valid. If necessary, reporting unit is contacted.
On micro level the most important validation rules are:
error if data on turnover in the reference month is 50% higher or lower compared with previous month;
error if data on value of retail stocks in the reference month is 50% higher or lower compared with previous month.
In the case of web questionnaires first checkings are done at the moment of data entry. Reporting units receive massages if errors occur and/or massages with warnings if data are not logical and have to be re-checked.
Wholesale and retail trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (G 45), Wholesale trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles (G 46)
There is an automatic control during the entering data in to on-line questionnaire. At data entry essential errors are identified which force reporting unit or administrator to eliminate them. If not, the data could not be successfully send to database.
In the case of web questionnaires first checkings are done at the moment of data entry. Reporting units receive messages if errors occur and/or messages with warnings if data are not logical and have to be re-checked.
Entered data also go through logical and calculation controls in survey processor according to which data are then checked and if there is a need, corrected by statistitian. There are specific rules that indicate if data are not valid. If necessary, reporting unit is contacted.
On micro level some of the validation rules are for reporting data:
Total turnover by enterprise depends on the size class of the enterprise, e.g.: for large and medium sized enterprise system indicates error if their turnover is below pre-defined limit.
Total turnover of enterprise in the reference month is 50% lower or higher compared with the previous month and with the same month of the previous year.
Total turnover of enterprise for the same period is 20% lower or higher compared the VAT data of reference month and with the same month of the previous year.
On micro level some of the validation rules are for VAT data:
Correction of negative values;
Comparison with fild survey data;
Detection of outliers;
Imputations.
18.5. Data compilation
Retail Trade (G 47)
Data are collected on a sample basis. The relation between the number of units in the sample is expressed by the level of their acceptability. Since the number of acceptable units changes over months, their level of acceptability is also subject to change.
Units that do not respond to the questionnaire are treated in a way that data are imputed to them by taking the data from fiscalization file.
Wholesale and retail trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (G 45), Wholesale trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles (G 46)
This survey is conducted by using the sample method. The Statistical Business Register is used as a frame for sample selection. Item non-response is dealt with data editing.
Grossed up results (value of turnover) are used to compile indices. Grossed up results as absolute numbers are used internally, mainly by National accounts.
18.6. Adjustment
Retail Trade (G 47)
Results are issued:
In the form of nominal (value) turnover indices, that is, the turnover expressed in current prices from which the effects of price changes are not excluded, and
As deflated indices (volume indices) from which the effects of price changes are excluded.
Volume indices are calculated by deflating the value indices by retail trade price indices for goods (without electricity and water distribution) according to consumer price indices.
Indices are presented in original (non-adjusted) form, as well as seasonally adjusted (SA), working-day adjusted (WDA) and as trend.
Wholesale and retail trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (G 45), Wholesale trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles (G 46)
Nominal turnover indices (value indices) in original, unadjusted form for a current month/quarter are calculated in relation to the average of a base year, then in relation to the same month/quarter of a previous year.
Indices are presented in original, non-adjusted form, as well as seasonaly adjusted, working day adjusted form and as a trend.
Since 2016, in the process of seasonal adjustment (identification and evaluation of seasonal and calendar effects), the software package JDemetra+ was used. Considering that there are two available options in the JDemetra+, TRAMO-SEATS (using Seats method for estimating seasonal effects) and X13 (using the X11 method for estimating seasonal effects), seasonal and working-day adjustment has been done by using the X13 ARIMA method. The effect of a random component in the seasonal adjustment process of the time series of indices has been excluded.
Due to the character of the implemented adjustment method, the adding of new quarterly/monthly observations for each quarter/month may cause changes in the seasonally and working-day adjusted indices for previous periods. The official list of holidays and non-working days in the Republic of Croatia is used to assess the working-day component, that is, to assess the effect of working days and holidays.
The level of detail: nominal and real series – Base indices of the various aggregates/subgroups of the National classification of economic activities (NKD) based on NACE Rev.2. on the following levels: "47", "47.11+47.2", "47.19+47.4+47.5+47.6+47.7+47.8+47.9", "47.3", "47-47.3", "G45", "G_451_453_454", "G_452","G_46", "G_461", "G_462", "G_463", "G_464", "G_465", "G_466", "G_467" and "G_469"
The use of default vs. national calendar – National calendar of holidays for Croatia is used in X13ARIMA method.
Adjustment for moving holiday effects (e.g. Easter) – Each series is tested for presence of Easter and Corpus Christi effect (automatic procedure in ARIMA X 13) – effect is significant in part of time series.
Treatment of leap year – The effect of leap year is tested as one of the calendar regressors, it is significant in part of time series.
Lack of calendar adjustment – There is calendar adjustment, i.e. calendar effect for Croatian holidays is tested for all the series
Type of calendar adjustment (e.g. regARIMA) – Calendar adjustment is performed by using automatic identification procedure in ARIMA x13, starting with 7 regressors and reducing their number as some may not be significant for given series.
Type of outliers detected – Level shifts (LS), additive outliers (AO) and transitory changes (TC) are tested, most common are LS's and AO's, automatic procedure is used in ARIMA X13.
Known economic outliers – At present there is not known economic explanation for persistent outliers.
Software / its version and the seasonal adjustment method: JDemetra+ 2.2.2, method is X13ARIMA.
Manual vs. automatic model or filter selection - For the majority of series, automatic model selection procedure is used; for problematic series, several models are tried in the frame of detailed analysis module until optimal model is found.
How often are models and respective parameters re-estimated? - Parameters re-estimation for ref. periods April, August and December, in other months application of forecasted factors for calculating ‘sa’ and ‘ycal’ series. Annual revision of models, filters, calendar regressors for ref. period m12
The horizon of revisions – It depends primarily on revisions of original series. Seasonally adjusted time series are revised in April, August and December (all values backwards)
Additive vs. multiplicative decomposition of seasonal adjustment – For the majority of series, multiplicative decomposition is performed. (more details in the attached document "Seasonal adjustment_retail trade" and "Seasonal adjustment_G45_G46")
The verification of the adequacy of the models – Adequacy of models is checked by built-in diagnostic indicators in ARIMA x13 after each new observation is added.
Critical value and automation of outlier detection – Default critical value in the automatic detection procedure of outliers is used (ARIMA x13).
The method of selecting filter length – For the length of seasonal filters, automatic procedure is used in ARIMA x13
Seasonal adjustment over the known breaks in series – Currently there are no breaks in series.
Indirect SA and checks for residual seasonality – No, direct SA approach is used.
The consistency of different aggregation levels – Not applicable
The critical value for outlier detection - 4
The filter length (automatically chosen vs. user-defined)- Seasonal filters are fixed during the year (revised at the end of a year if necessary) - (more details in the attached document "Seasonal adjustment_retail trade" and "Seasonal adjustment_G45_G46")
Whether residual seasonality is checked and from which level of detail the aggregation is started - QS test and F-test on residual seasonality are checked for every series
Not available.
The index of turnover of trade describes the development in the turnover of enterprises engaged in trade.
It is an important short-term indicator used to analyse business cycle trends in trade and as an input for national accounts statistics.
Since January 2024, the base year has been changed to 2021, and the new observation unit is a kind-of-activity unit (KAU).
For G47, the data sources are the Monthly Retail Trade Report (TRG-1) and administrative data from the fiscalisation system. For G45 and G46, the data sources are the Monthly Service Activities Report (USL-M) and administrative VAT data.
For G 47 the following variables are collected:
monthly turnover with VAT for retail trade;
monthly turnover with VAT for other activities.
Variables are reported in euros.
Results are shown in the form of nominal (value indices) and real indices (volume indices). Value indices show turnover movements in current prices. Volume indices are calculated by deflating value indices by retail trade price indices of goods (without electricity and water distribution) according to consumer price indices.
According to Structural Business Statistics (SBS), within the entire non-financial services business sector, Division 47 accounts for 10% in the total number of business entities, with 26% in the overall turnover, with 17% in the total value added and with 21% in the total number of employees.
In Section G, retail trade (division 47) covers 40% of the total number of business entities, 40% of overall turnover and 46% in value added of the distributive trades.
Wholesale and retail trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (G 45), Wholesale trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles (G 46).
For G45 and G46, information is collected on turnover (excluding VAT) for the reference month and for the same month of the previous year. Results are shown in the form of nominal (value indices).
15 July 2026
Retail Trade (G 47)
The statistical variable provided is turnover. Information is collected on turnover (including VAT) for the reference month, split between i) from retail activities and ii) from other activities of a business entity. Information on retail stocks in the reference month is also collected.
businesses whose main activity is in Division 47 (retailers) report their total turnover, i.e. turnover from their main activity as well as from their secondary activities;
businesses engaged in retailing, but with main activity outside Division 47, report only turnover from retailing.
Turnover covers flows during the calendar month.
Deflated turnover or volume of sales represents the value of turnover in constant prices. It is calculated as turnover at current prices deflated by the deflator of sales.
Wholesale and retail trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (G 45), Wholesale trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles (G 46)
Statistical variable which is provided is turnover. Information is collected on turnover (excluding VAT) for the reference month and for the same month of the previous year.
The STS definition of turnover is used. Turnover is defined as a value of all goods sold and services provided on the market during a month, irrespective of whether paid for or not.
Business entities report their total turnover, i.e. turnover from their main activity as well as from their secondary activities.
Turnover covers flows during the calendar month.
Since January 2024, the new observation unit is a kind-of-activity unit (KAU).
The target population consists of business entities (legal units, tradesmen and free lances) which are classified in the Division 47 by main activity, as well as selected business entities whose main activity is not in the scope of the survey (NACE Rev. 2 Division 47), but they carry out significant secondary activities within the scope of this survey, Division 45 by main activity and Division 46 by main activity.
The frame used to identify population units is the Statistical Business Register.
The 2025 frame for G47 consists of 18 106 units. The sample covers 5 152 units.
Frame for 2025 for G 45 and G 46 consists of 22211 units (14711 in G 46 and 7500 in G 45). Sample consists of 5408 units (4431 in G 46 and 977 in G45), of which 236 are included in the regular Monthly Report on Service Activities (USL-M form) (188 units in G 46 and 48 units in G 45).
The geographical area covered is the Republic of Croatia.
The reference period is one month.
Retail trade (G 47)
The accuracy is improved by eliminating as much as possible non-sampling errors.
The first estimates in general are not biased. The exception may occur for data for January when new sample is drawn and the first estimates are provided before all units from new sample respond.
The method used to select the sample is the cut-off method. The sample covers all business entities employing 10 and more persons as well as business entities selected using cut-off method employing less than 10 persons and covering 70% of the total turnover in each class of division 47 of the NKD 2007. Due to the application of the cut-off method for selecting the sample, the standard error and the coefficient of variation are not calculated.
Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (G), Wholesale and retail trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (G 45), Wholesale trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles (G 46)
The main sources of errors are sampling errors and non-sampling errors.
The main source for non-sampling errors is the accuracy of the sample frame. In order to update sample frame and to give feedback to Statistical Business Register, based on the information from the survey, units from the sample are classified as:
0 - runs business, refuse to report the data;
1 - runs business, report submitted;
2 - stopped running business;
3 - not engage in in the scope of the survey;
4 - dormant unit;
5 - bankruptcy;
6 - undeliverable;
7- does not perform specified service activity but some other service activity;
8- budget users;
9 - organizational changes (merge, splits etc.).
For G 47, the variable for which data are collected is turnover, including VAT, expressed in euros. Only index numbers are disseminated as a result of the survey.
For G 45 and G 46, the variable for which data are collected is turnover, excluding VAT, expressed in euros.
Only index numbers are disseminated as a result.
Retail Trade (G 47)
Data are collected on a sample basis. The relation between the number of units in the sample is expressed by the level of their acceptability. Since the number of acceptable units changes over months, their level of acceptability is also subject to change.
Units that do not respond to the questionnaire are treated in a way that data are imputed to them by taking the data from fiscalization file.
Wholesale and retail trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (G 45), Wholesale trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles (G 46)
This survey is conducted by using the sample method. The Statistical Business Register is used as a frame for sample selection. Item non-response is dealt with data editing.
Grossed up results (value of turnover) are used to compile indices. Grossed up results as absolute numbers are used internally, mainly by National accounts.
Retail Trade (G 47)
The production of retail trade indices is based on the compilation of data from a monthly statistical survey and administrative data (Tax Administration fiscalisation file).
The frame on which the survey coverage is based is the Statistical Business Register.
The survey is carried out using the sampling method. The sample frame consists of business entities and parts thereof registered in the Statistical Business Register of the Croatian Bureau of Statistics. Since 2021, the sample selection frame has been expanded using an administrative data source (Tax Administration fiscalisation file).
Business entities are divided by their main activity on the basis of the NKD 2007 (NN, Nos 58/07 and 123/08). By size, they are divided into classes from 1 to 7.
By size, business entities are classified as folows:
Size class 1: 0-4 persons in employment
Size class 2: 5-9 persons in employment
Size class 3: 10-19 persons in employment
Size class 4: 20-49 persons in employment
Size class 5: 50-99 persons in employment
Size class 6: 100-249 persons in employment
Size class 7: 250 and more persons in employment.
The method used to select the sample is the cut-off method. The sample covers all business entities employing 10 and more persons as well as business entities selected by using cut-off method employing less than 10 persons and covering 70% of the total turnover in each class of division 47 of the NKD 2007. Due to the application of the cut-off method for selecting the sample, the standard error and the coefficient of variation are not calculated. The sample is updated every year.
Wholesale and retail trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (G 45), Wholesale trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles (G 46)
The dataset is based on a regular monthly statistical survey. Frame on which the source is based is Address list maintained by the statistics office, derived from the Statistical Business Register.
The survey is carried out by using the sampling method. The sample is selected once a year. It is based on size and on annual turnover of business entities for the previous year. All medium-sized and large enterprises (sizes 5, 6 and 7) are taken from the Statistical Business Register. Units marked in the Register as small ones are also included if they exceed the determined threshold according to their annual turnover. Information on size of business entities is obtained from the Statistical Business Register and data on annual turnover from the regular monthly survey (USL-M form) and from administrative data sources (data bases of value added tax reports). A subset of units that will be included into the regular survey (USL-M form) is selected from all units selected in the sample. A selection criterion has been determined according to a particular turnover threshold, which has to be covered by those units.
The criteria for stratification are the main activity and the size of business entity. The main activity is defined for each business entity according to NACE Rev 2. The size thresholds are based on the number of persons employed. According to their size, business entities are classified into the size-classes.
Monthly.
Retail trade (G 47)
The first and final results are published 30 days after the end of the reference month.
In the case of data collection via Internet application, web application for reporting units is opened 20 days after the end of the reference month.
The survey is in general closed 24 days after the reference month.
Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (G), Wholesale and retail trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (G 45), Wholesale trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles (G 46)
Results are nationally published within approximately 60 days after the end of the reference period monthly and quarterly in Excel sheets in STS database and monthly in First Release.
From January 2019 results are disseminated to Eurostat 60 days after the end of the reference month and quarter.
The data are collected via a web-based application (the so-called CAWI). The reporting units enter data directly into the USL-M form, which is available on the web site of the Croatian Bureau of Statistics. The period for data collection ranges each month, as a rule, between the 1st and the 20th day of each month for data for the previous reference month.
VAT data are received from the Tax Administration 45 days after the end of the reference month.
The survey is in general closed 60 days after the reference month.
Same statistical concepts are applied in the entire national territory. There is no problem of geographical comparability.
Comparable data series are available from 2000 for G 47 and from 2010 for G 45 and G 46.
