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.
National Accounts Department / Short Term Statistics Unit
1.3. Contact name
Confidential because of GDPR
1.4. Contact person function
Confidential because of GDPR
1.5. Contact mail address
Mrs. Adelina Andrade. Instituto Nacional de Estatística (INE)
Avenida António José de Almeida, 5. 1000-043 Lisboa, Portugal
1.6. Contact email address
Confidential because of GDPR
1.7. Contact phone number
Confidential because of GDPR
1.8. Contact fax number
Confidential because of GDPR
2.1. Metadata last certified
15 May 2025
2.2. Metadata last posted
15 May 2025
2.3. Metadata last update
15 May 2025
3.1. Data description
Trade Turnover Indices
3.2. Classification system
NACE Rev. 2
3.3. Coverage - sector
Activity coverage:
Trade: Sections G of NACE Rev.2
Size coverage:
Enterprises with 50 or more persons employed are observed exhaustively. The following size classes are used: 1-5, 6-9, 10-20, 21-49, 50-200, 201-500, 500 and more.
The reference population represents all the statistical units recorded on the General Register of Statistical Units (FGUE – Ficheiro Geral de Unidades Estatísticas), whose last update for the variables total turnover and persons employed occurred in the previous 3 years of the reference year.
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
Turnover comprises separately charged costs, invoices, packaging as well discounts and other reductions. Information is collected concerning total turnover. Turnover and wages are defined according to the Accounting Plan.All the definitions are according to the Commission Regulation no. 2020/1197.
3.5. Statistical unit
KAU (kind-of-activity unit)
3.6. Statistical population
The sample is composed by both exhaustive and random parts. The exhaustive segment corresponds to the last quintile of either the turnover or number of employees (defined at 5 digits of NACE Rev. 2).
Trade: all units in business register in Sections G of NACE Rev.2 excluing Sections K and L of NACE Rev.2 Sample Frame: 36032 Units reporting: 2890 for Base Year 2021 year 2024.
3.7. Reference area
Portugal - All the economic territory is included
3.8. Coverage - Time
trade: Base 2021: from 01/2005 onwards for TOVT
for TOVV NACE46 starts in january 2020, therefore for previous periods Total of section G is not available
3.9. Base period
Base year:2021
Indices
Month
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
The survey is mandatory and fines up to EUR 50,000 be applied.
Planned changes in legal basis, obligation to respond and frame used
There are no planned changes
6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing
Data are transmitted to other international organizations (Eurostat and OECD).
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
The National Statistical Law (”Lei 22/2008” from May 13th) establishes the main principles as well as the working methods and composition of the Statistical System.
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
NACE REV 2 with less than 4 units and below a response rate of 85% are considered confidential, except if all units gave their formal authorisation to release data.
8.1. Release calendar
An advance release calendar that provides notice one-quarter in advance of the precise release dates is disseminated on the Statistics Portugal Internet website . In addition, a two-month in advance release calendar is disseminated in Informação Estatística, (in Portuguese). Free copies can be ordered from the contact person shown on the dissemination formats page. Release calendar
Activity Coverage: Section G - divisions G45, G46 and 47 of NACE Rev.2 , 3 digit level
Length of time series: Turnover: from 01/2005 (NACE Rev.2, Base 2021);
Deflated Turnover: for divistions G45 and G46 starts at 01-2021, for G47 starts at 01/2005
Presentation: All of the variables are transmitted as an index in an unadjusted, calendar adjusted and seasonal adjusted forms. either nominal indices either volume of sales
Identification of ministerial commentary on the occasion of statistical releases: No ministerial commentary is attached to the release of data by the statistical office.
10.2. Dissemination format - Publications
Data for production are published in the “Boletim Mensal de Estatística” (Monthly Statistics Bulletin) available in Portuguese language only and can be purchased by ordering it from the Customer Support or directly at Online catalogue.
Data are published in Statistics Portugal website (press release, excel format file and historical data access on-line database).
There is no public dissemination of micro data. Micro data are available for scientific investigations after confidentiality treatment of data.
10.5. Dissemination format - other
Data are sent to Eurostat to be used in European aggregates and/or to be released as national data.
10.6. Documentation on methodology
Dissemination of documentation on methodology and sources used in preparing statistics
A detailed methodological note in Portuguese only for base year 2021 is available free at Documentation on Methodology
10.7. Quality management - documentation
Not available.
11.1. Quality assurance
Monthly micro data are analyzed, checking the major changes on monthly and annual growth rates at enterprise level and also cross checking with other related variables of the unit’s answer. If necessary, units are contacted by telephone or email. Indices are analyzed to check the coherence of the results and, if necessary, the procedure is restarted.
All these procedures respect the quality policy defined in INE’s Code of Practice
All these procedures respect the quality policy defined in INE’s Quality Chart
11.2. Quality management - assessment
Indices are based on reliable data; Publication of results is always punctual; Further methodological details and other information can be found in point 14; multiple plausibility checks with different sources are done.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
Short-term statistics are used by different national (such as Central Bank, Ministry of Finance and researchers) and international institutions (Eurostat, OECD) and non-institutional users, according to the needs expressed in the Statistical Superior Council (SSC). The SSC is the body where are analyzed the user’s needs and defined the Statics Program.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
Apart from occasional user surveys aimed at specific target groups, Statistics Portugal conducts 6 permanent user satisfaction surveys targeted at the users of 6 different SP services: the User Support Service (responding to information requests), SP Portal (website), SP Libraries, Study visits hosted by SP, Training sessions to basic and secondary school teachers aiming at improving statistical literacy and Training sessions in the context of Statistics Portugal Information Network in Higher Education Institutions Libraries.
User satisfaction measured in each of the permanent user satisfaction surveys is summarized into a user satisfaction index using the extreme balance responses (EBR). This approach values the extreme answers in detriment of the “central” valuations which tend to represent a less expressive dissatisfaction or satisfaction. The scale weights are as follows: EBR = F1 * (-1) + F2 * (-0,5) + F3 * (-0,25) + F4 * (0,25) + F5 * (0,5) + F6, where Fi means the relative frequency of observed values for each one of the categories i (i= 1,…,6). Data is referenced in a metric scale between -1 and +1, where values next to -1 mean full dissatisfaction and values near +1 mean full satisfaction.
Results have been steady since 2014 and the user satisfaction index reached 0.61 EBR in 2024.
It is not possible to indicate a classical sampling error. The sample is designed to ensure a certain degree of accuracy for the estimates by stratum. In general, the sample is sized to allow a maximum coefficient of variation of 25% in each stratum. As a reference for the intended precision, the variation of the total statistic is considered for the stratification variables NPS and VVN
13.3. Non-sampling error
Response Rate
A threshold of 85% is defined for dissemination. Nevertheless, usually data is published with a response rate of more than 90%.
Actions to speed up or increase the rate of response
A lot of checks are carried out at the micro and macro data level. For example the following processing errors may occur:
A) Treatment on micro-data-level:
Human errors during the data editing process: these errors are often recognized with automated checks – online validation of chain and YOY rates of the unit;
Plausibility errors: a lot of checks are carried out automatically (but under possibility of human interaction): e.g. check of completeness/ sums/ horizontal logical dependences/ vertical relations/ average rates/ minimum/maximum values, etc..
etimation errors: the estiamted value is not within a plausible range of the per capita values by unit
The qualified checking of original respondent data, contacts to reporting units for corrections and the usage of sophisticated plausibility routines shall minimize the processing errors on micro-data-level.
B) Treatment on macro-data-level:
Final checks with analyze-tables (aggregates / more complex relations). These tables include all variables of the STS-survey. The macro data tabled are verified by computer programs but also by the staff whether these macro-data as publication figures look plausible. The persons responsible for the index calculation have their own computer programs to test the index-plausibility of the different data at 3 and 2 digit level and for all aggregates. If inconsistencies are detected the data must be verified at micro-level again by using the raw data of the questionnaire.
Model effects, such as:
Imputation errors: the usage of previous period values tends to result in under or overestimating the real development (especially if big enterprises' values are missing). Therefore specific imputation methods for missing data are used to correct these errors.
Overcoverage / Undercoverage: Classification errors and Overcoverage are observed especially at the reference periods of January due to changes of the respondent units (i.e. deaths of enterprises, changes in enterprise structures, new classifications). Undercoverage: One of the reasons is the loss of responding units due to false classifications and the difficulty to find alternative enterprises during the reference year, yet it is not possible to quantify the under coverage rate.
Recommendations previewed in the Final Report of the Task Force Retail Trade Quality are applied to all indicators, mainly book 3.
The response rate is normally very high for the first release, nevertheless in case of non-response the largest units are contacted by telephone and units may also be contacted by fax. Ultimately a fine may be imposed.
14.1. Timeliness
Trade: This indicator is released 30 days after the end of the reference period.
For all indices, the monthly data is considered to be definitive one year after the end of the calendar year in which the reference month falls. Revisions are made to the two previous periods.
Timetable of data collection:
Questionnaires are sent around the 25th of the reference month. The enterprises are requested to answer within 10 days (calendar days) of the end of the reference month.
14.2. Punctuality
STS deadlines have been respected.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
Due to harmonized STS indices in the European Union, it is possible to compare Portuguese aggregates with those of other European countries. There is no regional desegregation, but all national territory is covered, including the AR’s (Azores and Madeira).
15.2. Comparability - over time
To ensure comparability over time, it is tried to keep the data base as steady as possible. STS indices are compared over time (previous month and year). Comparisons with NA accounts (quarter and annual) are made every 2 years. Base 2021 series have been back casted until 2005 with exception of variable TOVV for NACE46
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
Cross-checks with absolute STS-values (previous month and year). At the first release moment no other data is available for comparisons. At the end of each year an annual trend is compared with the trend of the administrative source IES/SBS.
15.4. Coherence - internal
Aggregate levels derive from weighting 3 or 4 digit level indices (not published).
Trade: According to a questionnaire send to all companies in the sample in 2023: Response rate 62,7%, 1635 hours
17.1. Data revision - policy
The document “Politica de Revisões” (revision policy) contains the guidelines to follow. This document can be found following the link: Revisions policy
In the particular case all STS indicators in every reference period m, m-1 and m-2 are revised and the revisons are published at the same time as the press release (notes). in m+15 (in the press release of March of the following year) all year is revised and closed. Only in case of 'extraordinary revision' data will be reopened.
the same revision is applied both to data released nationally and to data transmitted to Eurostat
17.2. Data revision - practice
QPI considering 36 observations ending in December 2024
TOVT_N
TOTAL
45
46
47
MAR
0,925
0,822
0,844
0,656
RMAR
0,135
0,083
0,092
0,093
MR
-0,336
-0,022
-0,144
0,406
MaxAR
11,5
6,4
6,4
11,4
18.1. Source data
Type of source: Data are obtained through statistical surveys and Administrative Source (Social Security) for employment and wages and salaries of the units in the sample.
Frame on which the source is based: The General Register of Statistical Units (FGUE – Ficheiro Geral de Unidades Estatísticas).
Sample of census: Trade turnover and hours worked is stratified sample survey.
Criteria for stratification:
The reference universe of these surveys are composed by enterprises whose NACE is between code’s “05” and “82”, with exception of the division 41, 42 and 43 (Construction), 64. 65 and 66 from section K (Financial and Insurance Activities)
First, the reference population represents all the statistical units recorded on the General Register of Statistical Units (FGUE – Ficheiro Geral de Unidades Estatísticas), whose last update for the variables total turnover and persons employed occurred in the previous 3 years of the reference year.
On a second phase of selection, quartiles of accumulated value of number of persons employed (NPS), turnover (VVN) and exports are calculated, by NACE groups. Then, all units whose NPS and VVN are inferior, simultaneously, to the first quartile calculated by NACE are excluded of the sample. Exceptions are made for units with exports values equal or higher than the respective quartile, new units, or unit units with more than 150 employees.
According to Eurostat recommendations, the sample must guarantee around 80% of the total turnover by economical activity. Therefore, the sampling frame only contains units whose turnover is equal or higher than a maximum value calculated between the 20% quintile and EUR 150.000.
The sizing of the sample is made in order to guarantee one definitive degree of precision of the estimates by stratum. In general, the sample is dimensioned tolerating a maximum coefficient of variation of 25% in each stratum. As reference to the intended precision, it is considered the variation of the statistics of the total for the variables of stratification number of persons employed and turnover.
Some criteria of exhaustiveness are applied, considering of obligator inquiry the companies whose accumulated value, of number of persons employed and turnover is superior to 80% or 90% of the total of these variables, depending on the grouping of NACE for diffusion.
Every year a new base of sampling is constituted, considering the relative alterations to the relevance of the companies in the activity where they belong, as well as the questions related with the demography of the companies. The update of the sample is made annually, renewing about 20% of the current sample.
Although the necessity to keep some stability in the calculation of the indices, we considered that the enumerated criteria adapts to the volatileness of the market and the reality of each sector of activity.
Trade: The sample has 2886 units in 2024
Threshold values and percentages:
No threshold is applied.
Frequency of updating the sample:
Annually: a new sample is designed and with March release this new sample is incorporated in the indices. Each month the sample is updated for deaths and, when a given stratum loses representativeness (coefficient of variation below 20%) new units are included.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Data are collected on a monthly basis
18.3. Data collection
Questionnaires used in the survey:
There is only one questionnaire - online, that allows all enterprises to reply according to their NACE code.
Trade: The questionnaires that are used to collect data for this indicator collect the following variables: turnover and number of hours worked
Planned changes in national questionnaires: reduce burden
Data collection media:The survey is carried out by an electronic questionnaire
Planned changes in data collection methodology: Improving validation online in web questionnaires
18.4. Data validation
Comparisons on line with previous month and n-12. Off line comparisons within the stratum of companies are done. Data is validated off line with previous and n-12 months.
Automatic estimates considerer the following situations:
A) the unit was in the sample already in n-12 and n-13 - estimation n = n-1*(n-12/n-13);
B) the unit was in the sample already in n-12 but not in n-13 - estimation n uses auxiliary variable of the ansewrs in stratum n/n-12 *n -1(of the unit);
C) the unit was not in the sample neither n-12 neither n-13 - estimation n uses auxiliary variable of the ansewrs in stratum n/n-1n*n-1(of the unit);
D) = A but n-12 or n-13 =0 (it occurs in turnover non euro zone - extracomunitary market
Manual expert estimation of non-response is allowed.
The document IVNE_estimation of non-response (only in portuguese) describes in all detail the estimation for turnover as for social variables
Estimates for grossing-up to population levels:
The sample results are grossed up taling into account the number of enterprises in the Population and in the sample for each stratum.
Type of index:All indices are expressed in a Laspeyres index type and refer to a rate of change in the latest period compared to the previous period.
Estimates for grossing-up to population levels:
The sample results are grossed up taking into account the number of enterprises in the Population and in the sample for each stratum.
Type of index: All indices are expressed in a Laspeyres index type and refer to a rate of change in the latest period compared to the previous period.
Method of weighting and chaining:
Services: the weighting factor is the Total turnover for the 3-digit level of NACE Rev.2 obtained from the administrative data IES (informação empresarial simplificada) and IRS (income tax) confronted with national accounts values.
Planned changes in production methods: Chaining indices with moving weights.
The monthly Turnover Series for Trade are working days and calendar effect adjusted, and seasonally adjusted, using JDemetra, Tramo-Seats and ARIMA X12.
For trade in base 2021 TOVT and TOVV - raw data are seasonally adjusted in way to guarantee that also the seasonality of Prices is not included in the final indices. For TOVV NACE46 series are still to short and so same factores from nominal models are used.
The monthly Turnover Series for Trade (G47 and G45) are deflated using H-CPI at constant taxes. For G46 a composit deflator considering industrial, import class and agriculture price indexes are used.
Not available.
Trade Turnover Indices
15 May 2025
Turnover comprises separately charged costs, invoices, packaging as well discounts and other reductions. Information is collected concerning total turnover. Turnover and wages are defined according to the Accounting Plan.All the definitions are according to the Commission Regulation no. 2020/1197.
KAU (kind-of-activity unit)
The sample is composed by both exhaustive and random parts. The exhaustive segment corresponds to the last quintile of either the turnover or number of employees (defined at 5 digits of NACE Rev. 2).
Trade: all units in business register in Sections G of NACE Rev.2 excluing Sections K and L of NACE Rev.2 Sample Frame: 36032 Units reporting: 2890 for Base Year 2021 year 2024.
Portugal - All the economic territory is included
Month
Response Rate
Non Response Rate
jan-24
90.1
9.9
feb-24
96.5
3.5
mar-24
95.4
4.6
apr-24
95.39
4.6
may-24
92.13
7.9
jun-24
82.63
17.4
jul-24
90.51
9.5
aug-24
80.4
19.6
sep-24
93.0
7.0
oct-24
93.5
6.5
nov-24
91.4
8.6
dec-24
91.4
8.6
Average
93.0
9.0
Indices
Estimates for non-response:
Automatic estimates considerer the following situations:
A) the unit was in the sample already in n-12 and n-13 - estimation n = n-1*(n-12/n-13);
B) the unit was in the sample already in n-12 but not in n-13 - estimation n uses auxiliary variable of the ansewrs in stratum n/n-12 *n -1(of the unit);
C) the unit was not in the sample neither n-12 neither n-13 - estimation n uses auxiliary variable of the ansewrs in stratum n/n-1n*n-1(of the unit);
D) = A but n-12 or n-13 =0 (it occurs in turnover non euro zone - extracomunitary market
Manual expert estimation of non-response is allowed.
The document IVNE_estimation of non-response (only in portuguese) describes in all detail the estimation for turnover as for social variables
Estimates for grossing-up to population levels:
The sample results are grossed up taling into account the number of enterprises in the Population and in the sample for each stratum.
Type of index:All indices are expressed in a Laspeyres index type and refer to a rate of change in the latest period compared to the previous period.
Estimates for grossing-up to population levels:
The sample results are grossed up taking into account the number of enterprises in the Population and in the sample for each stratum.
Type of index: All indices are expressed in a Laspeyres index type and refer to a rate of change in the latest period compared to the previous period.
Method of weighting and chaining:
Services: the weighting factor is the Total turnover for the 3-digit level of NACE Rev.2 obtained from the administrative data IES (informação empresarial simplificada) and IRS (income tax) confronted with national accounts values.
Planned changes in production methods: Chaining indices with moving weights.
Type of source: Data are obtained through statistical surveys and Administrative Source (Social Security) for employment and wages and salaries of the units in the sample.
Frame on which the source is based: The General Register of Statistical Units (FGUE – Ficheiro Geral de Unidades Estatísticas).
Sample of census: Trade turnover and hours worked is stratified sample survey.
Criteria for stratification:
The reference universe of these surveys are composed by enterprises whose NACE is between code’s “05” and “82”, with exception of the division 41, 42 and 43 (Construction), 64. 65 and 66 from section K (Financial and Insurance Activities)
First, the reference population represents all the statistical units recorded on the General Register of Statistical Units (FGUE – Ficheiro Geral de Unidades Estatísticas), whose last update for the variables total turnover and persons employed occurred in the previous 3 years of the reference year.
On a second phase of selection, quartiles of accumulated value of number of persons employed (NPS), turnover (VVN) and exports are calculated, by NACE groups. Then, all units whose NPS and VVN are inferior, simultaneously, to the first quartile calculated by NACE are excluded of the sample. Exceptions are made for units with exports values equal or higher than the respective quartile, new units, or unit units with more than 150 employees.
According to Eurostat recommendations, the sample must guarantee around 80% of the total turnover by economical activity. Therefore, the sampling frame only contains units whose turnover is equal or higher than a maximum value calculated between the 20% quintile and EUR 150.000.
The sizing of the sample is made in order to guarantee one definitive degree of precision of the estimates by stratum. In general, the sample is dimensioned tolerating a maximum coefficient of variation of 25% in each stratum. As reference to the intended precision, it is considered the variation of the statistics of the total for the variables of stratification number of persons employed and turnover.
Some criteria of exhaustiveness are applied, considering of obligator inquiry the companies whose accumulated value, of number of persons employed and turnover is superior to 80% or 90% of the total of these variables, depending on the grouping of NACE for diffusion.
Every year a new base of sampling is constituted, considering the relative alterations to the relevance of the companies in the activity where they belong, as well as the questions related with the demography of the companies. The update of the sample is made annually, renewing about 20% of the current sample.
Although the necessity to keep some stability in the calculation of the indices, we considered that the enumerated criteria adapts to the volatileness of the market and the reality of each sector of activity.
Trade: The sample has 2886 units in 2024
Threshold values and percentages:
No threshold is applied.
Frequency of updating the sample:
Annually: a new sample is designed and with March release this new sample is incorporated in the indices. Each month the sample is updated for deaths and, when a given stratum loses representativeness (coefficient of variation below 20%) new units are included.
Trade: monthly, 30 days after the end of reference period
Trade: This indicator is released 30 days after the end of the reference period.
For all indices, the monthly data is considered to be definitive one year after the end of the calendar year in which the reference month falls. Revisions are made to the two previous periods.
Timetable of data collection:
Questionnaires are sent around the 25th of the reference month. The enterprises are requested to answer within 10 days (calendar days) of the end of the reference month.
Due to harmonized STS indices in the European Union, it is possible to compare Portuguese aggregates with those of other European countries. There is no regional desegregation, but all national territory is covered, including the AR’s (Azores and Madeira).
To ensure comparability over time, it is tried to keep the data base as steady as possible. STS indices are compared over time (previous month and year). Comparisons with NA accounts (quarter and annual) are made every 2 years. Base 2021 series have been back casted until 2005 with exception of variable TOVV for NACE46
