Reference metadata describe statistical concepts and methodologies used for the collection and generation of data. They provide information on data quality and, since they are strongly content-oriented, assist users in interpreting the data. Reference metadata, unlike structural metadata, can be decoupled from the data.
The aim of the survey is to collect the data necessary for calculation the index of total trade turnover in Montenegro. The data obtained are used to monitor the volume and dynamics of turnover movements, to analyze the volume and changes in the structure of personal consumption, to analyze the seasonal characteristics of consumption and to view the overall economic trends.
3.2. Classification system
NACE Rev. 2 and COICOP
3.3. Coverage - sector
Reporting units are all enterprises (companies) whose main activity is trade and who are in the Statistical Business Register registered in the sector G NACE Rev2. Enterprises with turnover = 0 are excluded.
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
Turnover of goods in trade shows the value of goods delivered by trade enterprises/organizations to final consumers (primarily to final consumers for personal consumption or use in households, and to legal and physical entities for performing their activities).
Turnover is without VAT.
VAT - value added tax value.
Turnover covers flows during the calendar month. Deflated indicators represent the value of turnover in constant prices.
3.5. Statistical unit
For trade survey the reporting and observation unit are the same. Units of statistical observation and reporting for which data are provided, are enterprises with main activity in the Statistical Business Register is in sector G NACE Rev2.
3.6. Statistical population
The source of data is the Revenue and customs administration.
3.7. Reference area
The whole territory of Montenegro.
3.8. Coverage - Time
The trade statistics was set up over 50 years ago but since 2007 the trade survey has been conducted by a new methodology.
3.9. Base period
The base year is 2021.
Turnover - in Euro.
Number of employees - counted numerically.
Changes compared to the previous periods – indices numbers.
Data are collected in reference to period of month.
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
Implementation of the retail trade survey in Montenegro also relies on the REGULATION (EU) 2019/2152 EBS.
6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing
Data are regularly transmitted to EUROSTAT via EDAMIS.
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
National legislation
According to the Law on Statistics and Statistical System of Montenegro, Article 54 the data collected, processed and stored for the purpose of official statistics shall be confidential, if it is on the basis of these data, either directly or indirectly identify reporting units which disclosing individual information.
European legislation
REGULATION (EU) 2019/2152 EBS.
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
Confidential data are treated according to policy rules (see point 7.1). Data are nationally published only on the level at which they are not confidential. Individual data represent an official secret.
8.1. Release calendar
Data are published on last day of the month that is 30 days after the end of the observed month in Monthly statistical review and quarterly in release. Date of publication release is defined in the Calendar of statistics of MONSTAT.
Monthly trade data are published 30 days after the end of the reference period, on the MONSTAT website at 11 am. The data are published in a quarterly press release (Excel and Word), in the monthly statistical bulletin (Excel and Word) and as dynamic data (Excel). When a user submits a request for information that is not on the site, we respond to him through official procedures within 15 days. The data arepublished and transferred to EUROSTAT 30 days after the end of the reference period.
For the systematic and standardized approach to quality, the Quality Management Framework was adopted by MONSTAT. Clear intention is expressed to take further steps towards full compliance with the European Statistics Code of Practice.
11.2. Quality management - assessment
Quality is monitored throughout all stages of data production, by the responsible statisticians, according to specifications for concrete surveys. Data collection, data capture and processing are usually subject to this monitoring (similarly as timeliness and punctuality).
In the framework of the organization of statistical surveys, selected quality aspects are part of preparing staff involved in statistical production.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
Main users of data are classified into two groups:
International data users: Eurostat and United Nations.;
National data users: Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Economy, Chamber of Commerce, research institutions, companies engaged in trade, statistics of National accounts, and other sectors inside MONSTAT, as well as general public.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
Customer satisfaction survey is not yet available at the level of research. All users request was fulfilled and based on that, we have concluded that users are satisfied with our survey. At the level of institutions is available online survey.
12.3. Completeness
The survey is done on a basis of administrative data for companies that are registered in 47 (by NACE Rev. 2 classification of economic activities) and the data from this survey are partly harmonized with the REGULATION (EU) 2019/2152 EBS.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
Reporting units are all enterprises (companies) whose main activity is trade and who are in the Statistical Business Register registered in the sector G NACE Rev2. Enterprises with turnover = 0 are excluded. The source of data is the Revenue and customs administration.
13.2. Sampling error
Not applicable.
13.3. Non-sampling error
Not applicable.
14.1. Timeliness
The first results are published around 30 days after the end of the reference month.
Data from the administrative source are available 25 days after the end of the reference month.
14.2. Punctuality
Deadlines for publishing have been complied in accordance with the calendar of release. 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
Methodology of our trade survey is the same as in other European countries, that is the reason why our data are comparable geographically with data of other EU countries (data are not workday and seasonally adjusted).
15.2. Comparability - over time
Comparable data are published since 2006 (2010=100) on the MONSTAT website.
Retail trade data have also been published previously in an annual volume according to archived data since 1955 (collected by Federal Statistic Office of Yugoslavia).
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
The data from other areas of economic statistics (Structural Business Statistics, National Accounts, Tourism statistics…) are used to do cross-checking the data.
15.4. Coherence - internal
Data are internal coherent. Higher level aggregations are derived from detailed indices according to well-defined procedures.
Financial resources required for the implementation of this survey are defined by the budget of Statistical Office of Montenegro.
17.1. Data revision - policy
Revision Policy prepared by Statistical Office of Montenegro is available on web site. The same revision policy is applied nationally and in the transmissions to Eurostat.
17.2. Data revision - practice
Published data are considered preliminary until the next quarterly release. When the next quarter data were published then data from previous statements become final. Monthly retail data published and send to Eurostat 30 days after referent period. Survey on Turnover index in retail trade uses regular revisions. Large and unplanned audits are only used in the specific cases defined by the revision policy.
Routine revisions, related to replacing estimated data with the subsequently reported data, are not carried out, because all data are available according to the deadlines.
If error occurs, corrected data are published in the next issue of First release. Data changed in relation to the first released are disseminated with a comment.
The requiered indicators MR and MAR has not been calculated yet.
Size of revisions has not been calculated yet.
18.1. Source data
Reporting units are all enterprises (companies) whose main activity is trade and who are in the Statistical Business Register registered in the sector G NACE Rev2. Enterprises with turnover = 0 are excluded. The source of data is the Revenue and customs administration.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Monthly.
18.3. Data collection
Revenue and customs administration delivers data based on monthly level.
18.4. Data validation
Data validation is done thru control of individual data and control of aggregated data and indices. Reporting units are contacted for additional clarifications. Data checking is performed in accordance with the defined criteria for control (automatic validation) and error corrections are carried out. Data are compared with the previous period of the same year, as well as with same period of previous year. If necessary, the respondents are contacted in order to clarify the deviation.
Statistical results (aggregated data) for the reference month are also compared to the results of the previous month and with the corresponding month of the previous year at each level of aggregation.
The prepared indices are also checked in detail before publication and data transmission to Eurostat.
The aim of the survey is to collect the data necessary for calculation the index of total trade turnover in Montenegro. The data obtained are used to monitor the volume and dynamics of turnover movements, to analyze the volume and changes in the structure of personal consumption, to analyze the seasonal characteristics of consumption and to view the overall economic trends.
29 July 2025
Turnover of goods in trade shows the value of goods delivered by trade enterprises/organizations to final consumers (primarily to final consumers for personal consumption or use in households, and to legal and physical entities for performing their activities).
Turnover is without VAT.
VAT - value added tax value.
Turnover covers flows during the calendar month. Deflated indicators represent the value of turnover in constant prices.
For trade survey the reporting and observation unit are the same. Units of statistical observation and reporting for which data are provided, are enterprises with main activity in the Statistical Business Register is in sector G NACE Rev2.
The source of data is the Revenue and customs administration.
The whole territory of Montenegro.
Data are collected in reference to period of month.
Reporting units are all enterprises (companies) whose main activity is trade and who are in the Statistical Business Register registered in the sector G NACE Rev2. Enterprises with turnover = 0 are excluded. The source of data is the Revenue and customs administration.
Turnover - in Euro.
Number of employees - counted numerically.
Changes compared to the previous periods – indices numbers.
Not applicable.
Reporting units are all enterprises (companies) whose main activity is trade and who are in the Statistical Business Register registered in the sector G NACE Rev2. Enterprises with turnover = 0 are excluded. The source of data is the Revenue and customs administration.
Quarterly according to Calendar of Release.
The first results are published around 30 days after the end of the reference month.
Data from the administrative source are available 25 days after the end of the reference month.
Methodology of our trade survey is the same as in other European countries, that is the reason why our data are comparable geographically with data of other EU countries (data are not workday and seasonally adjusted).
Comparable data are published since 2006 (2010=100) on the MONSTAT website.
Retail trade data have also been published previously in an annual volume according to archived data since 1955 (collected by Federal Statistic Office of Yugoslavia).
