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 indices of the turnover and volume of retail trade describe the development of sales and volume of sales respectively in the wholesale and retail trade sector (NACE Section G).
3.2. Classification system
The classifications used in STS is NACE rev.2.
3.3. Coverage - sector
The following NACE divisions are covered:
NACE 45 - Wholesale and retail trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles;
NACE 46 - Wholesale trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles;
NACE 47 - Retail trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles.
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
For these indicators, 3 NACE divisions are covered, namely G45, G46 and G47. Additionally, NACE 47 is further broken down into sum of (G4711 and G472) (=G47_Food), sum of (G4719, G474 to G479) (=G47_Nfood_X_G473), Division G47, G473, Division G47 without G473 (=G47_X_G473).
The main indicator is turnover. The use of HICP data are used to deflate the turnover. Turnover exlcudes VAT.
3.5. Statistical unit
Kind of Activity (KAU) Unit.
3.6. Statistical population
The statistical population is around 800 business units and includes all those falling under NACE Divisions 45-47. The population is maintained by the Business Registers unit.
3.7. Reference area
The indicator covers the national territory of the Maltese Islands. Activities carried out outside the national territory of the Maltese Islands are excluded.
3.8. Coverage - Time
The data for these indices are available from the year 2000.
3.9. Base period
Base year (year on which weights are based): 2021.
Reference year (year when the index equals 100): 2021.
The same base and reference years are used for data published locally and that transmitted to Eurostat.
The data are provided in index form.
The data are collected and provided on a monthly basis.
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
Data Sharing matters are governed by the Malta Statistics Authority Act XXIV of 2000. The indices are sent to Eurostat.
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
Apart from the established legislative framework, the NSO is also guided by an internal general confidentiality policy. Data tagged as confidential are not available for publication.
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
Confidentiality matters are regulated by the Malta Statistics Authority Act XXIV of 2000. Such data are marked as such.
8.1. Release calendar
An advance release calendar is published on the NSOs website.
8.2. Release calendar access
All releases are published and disseminated at 11h00 as scheduled in the Advance Release Calendar. The calendar is published on the NSO website and includes a 3 month advance notice (the current month and the next two months).
8.3. Release policy - user access
National statistical releases are issued according to the release calendar and are made available to all users simultaneously. All releases are posted on the organisation's website.
Eurostat transmissions for these indices are carried out on a monthly basis. NACEs G45 and G46 are sent 60 days after the end of the reference period while G47 is sent 30 days after the end of the reference period. National news releases for the index are carried out on a quarterly basis and according to the national news release calendar.
10.1. Dissemination format - News release
The main dissemination channel for official statistics is the NSO website.
A quarterly local news release is published on the turnover index.
10.2. Dissemination format - Publications
The short-term statistics only publishes its figures in an annual compendium named Malta in Figures or Trends in Malta. These can be accessed from the NSO website.
10.3. Dissemination format - online database
The NSO website offers an online statistical database (StatDB) that provides a more in-depth analysis for the more expert statistical user or researcher. The StatDB requires registration as only registered users can extract data from the database. Registration is free-of-charge. Currently, this index is not available in this format.
10.4. Dissemination format - microdata access
In general, index results made available to Eurostat ensure a sufficient degree of representativeness of data. More detailed data than that published locally and internationally are available on request but are subject to the confidentiality clauses.
In such cases, data are provided in index form. Micro data are not provided to users.
10.5. Dissemination format - other
Data are transmitted to Eurostat on a monthly basis.
The NSO quality assurance principles are developed according to the ESS Handbook for Quality Reports (2014).
11.2. Quality management - assessment
Aspects of quality are divided into several steps. These are specifying needs, designing and building data instruments and collecting, processing, analysing, disseminating, archiving and evaluating data. The main guiding principles in quality management are found in the:
Overall, the quality of the indices is of good quality and reliable.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
The main users are the following:
Eurostat;
Central Bank of Malta;
Other international organisations.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
Not available.
12.3. Completeness
Data are compliant with relevant European and local regulations and requirements are fully fulfilled.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
The overall accuracy of the indicators is considered to be of good quality.
Sampling error and non-sampling error are small and the first estimates are not biased.
13.2. Sampling error
The number of observations for this indicator is around 600 business units. NACE Division 47- retail trade, constitute the bulk of these observations - around 500, while the other two NACE divisions (45 and 46) constitute the remaining 200 observation units. Altogether, these business units represent around 80% of the population turnover.
The majority of the NACE categories (including the detailed breakdowns for NACE 47) are sampled using non probability sampling methods such as the 80% cut off method or the 1% method (all business units that have at least 1% of total turnover).
13.3. Non-sampling error
Non-sampling errors relate to problems such as under or over coverage, non-response, data-processing and estimation.
Non-sampling errors are mainly due to non-response. Hence, the Short-term Business Statistics Unit use the donor technique using Euclidean distance as the main imputation technique.
Weighted Response Rate every month exceeds 70%. The weighting variable to calculate the response rate is turnover.
14.1. Timeliness
The index is disseminated 30 days after the end of the reference period.
14.2. Punctuality
The NSO is committed to adhere to the timeliness established by the European Business Statistics Regulation (EBS) and also issues news releases according to its pre-published calendar.
All deadlines are respected during the course of the year.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
To ensure geographical comparability across member states the index is compiled according to the EBS (European Business Statistics) Regulations. Minor methodological deviations may exist due to specific conditions that apply to each Member State.
15.2. Comparability - over time
The data series has been compiled since the year 2000. The first set of indicators was based on NACE Rev 1. Following 2009, the indicator was published according to the new NACE Rev 2 classification. Furthermore, for every year ending in 0 or 5, new fixed aggregation weights are introduced.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
Data are compared to administrative data.
15.4. Coherence - internal
Aggregates are consistent with the other components.
Data burden is considered high. 120 hours/month are approximately used for the compilation of these indices. From the respondent point of view, about 15mins/month are used to compile the questionnaire.
17.1. Data revision - policy
Revisions are carried according to the European Business Statistics Regulation. Internal procedures are also established.
The same revision policy is applied to both data released nationally and that sent to Eurostat.
Revision analysis is carried out before every news release published locally or sent to Eurostat and clear explanations are also sought. Detailed explanations at micro data level are also analysed but only used internally for quality information purposes. Generally, this index will have routine minor revisions due to actual data replacing estimates due to non-response. Major revisions may also be done but this will be on an exceptional basis.
A revision calendar does not exist.
17.2. Data revision - practice
Data marked as provisional are revised when actual data are received and imputations are replaced with such data.
The calendar adjusted Mean Absolute Revision (MAR) and Mean Revision (MR) are the below:
MAR = 0.029
MR = 0.026
18.1. Source data
Data are based on a sample survey of around 600 units which is refreshed every 5 years.
Turnover and employment are the main variables used for sample design.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
The frequency of data collection is on a monthly basis.
18.3. Data collection
Data is collected by means of a statistical questionnaire. Questionnaires are sent by post and their collection is done via post, fax, e-mail or online systems.
18.4. Data validation
Validations of format and file structure checks and intra-dataset checks are checked with the use of in-house excel sheets and access databases.
Revisions analysis is also carried out for every data transmission sent to Eurostat using in-house access queries. When data revisions are significantly large, a short explanation is also given to Eurostat.
18.5. Data compilation
Non-response is treated by micro-estimation to ensure a full response for all surveyed units.
A Laspeyres type index is used for compilation and the weights are updated every 5 years from the Structural Business Statistics survey.
The current file conversion is GESMES/TS and the plan is to use the SDMX-ML tool in the future.
18.6. Adjustment
Unadjusted data are transformed into working day and seasonally adjusted data using the JDemetra+ 2.2.2 software.
Automatic filter is used and models and parameters are re-estimated every year. There are no seasonal breaks and the direct adjustment is used. Filter length is chosen automatically and residual seasonality is checked.
Further information on seasonal adjustment methods are found in the annex (SA Retail Trade Metadata MT).
The indices of the turnover and volume of retail trade describe the development of sales and volume of sales respectively in the wholesale and retail trade sector (NACE Section G).
13 June 2025
For these indicators, 3 NACE divisions are covered, namely G45, G46 and G47. Additionally, NACE 47 is further broken down into sum of (G4711 and G472) (=G47_Food), sum of (G4719, G474 to G479) (=G47_Nfood_X_G473), Division G47, G473, Division G47 without G473 (=G47_X_G473).
The main indicator is turnover. The use of HICP data are used to deflate the turnover. Turnover exlcudes VAT.
Kind of Activity (KAU) Unit.
The statistical population is around 800 business units and includes all those falling under NACE Divisions 45-47. The population is maintained by the Business Registers unit.
The indicator covers the national territory of the Maltese Islands. Activities carried out outside the national territory of the Maltese Islands are excluded.
The data are collected and provided on a monthly basis.
The overall accuracy of the indicators is considered to be of good quality.
Sampling error and non-sampling error are small and the first estimates are not biased.
The data are provided in index form.
Non-response is treated by micro-estimation to ensure a full response for all surveyed units.
A Laspeyres type index is used for compilation and the weights are updated every 5 years from the Structural Business Statistics survey.
The current file conversion is GESMES/TS and the plan is to use the SDMX-ML tool in the future.
Data are based on a sample survey of around 600 units which is refreshed every 5 years.
Turnover and employment are the main variables used for sample design.
Eurostat transmissions for these indices are carried out on a monthly basis. NACEs G45 and G46 are sent 60 days after the end of the reference period while G47 is sent 30 days after the end of the reference period. National news releases for the index are carried out on a quarterly basis and according to the national news release calendar.
The index is disseminated 30 days after the end of the reference period.
To ensure geographical comparability across member states the index is compiled according to the EBS (European Business Statistics) Regulations. Minor methodological deviations may exist due to specific conditions that apply to each Member State.
The data series has been compiled since the year 2000. The first set of indicators was based on NACE Rev 1. Following 2009, the indicator was published according to the new NACE Rev 2 classification. Furthermore, for every year ending in 0 or 5, new fixed aggregation weights are introduced.
