The unece organizes with the financial support of the World Bank

Coordination of data collections would help reducing response burden and to divide it more evenly among respondents

Existing sources of information should be used to the largest extent possible

• Administrative registers
• Commercial datasets
• Data collected by other organizations

Coherence

• = Degree to which data is logically connected and mutually consistent

• Coherence within a data set
• Coherence across data sets
• common concepts, definitions, valuation principles, classifications and co-operation
• Coherence over time
• Coherence across countries
• Extent to which the recommendations have been adopted

• Link to national accounts important

STS vs Structural Statistics (SBS)

• STS = measures economic developments

• SBS = a snapshot describing structure & detail

• STS and SBS have different data sources, definitions, statistical methods, timing and coverage (fiscal/calendar)

• Treatment of changes in the population

• SBS: the population in the reference year as it is
• STS: makes different time periods comparable (by correcting for mergers and splits etc)

• Further improvement of coherence needed!

List of Methodology Guidelines

• Methodology of Short-Term Business Statistics (EC), 2006 http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/ramon/statmanuals/files/KS-BG-06-001-EN.pdf

• International Recommendations for the Index of Industrial Production (UN), 2010 http://unstats.un.org/unsd/statcom/doc10/BG-IndustrialStats.pdf

• Use of Administrative Sources for Business Statistics Purposes (EC), 1999 http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/ramon/statmanuals/files/CA-24-99-897-__-N-EN.pdf

• International Recommendations for Distributive Trade Statistics (UN), 2009 http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/ramon/statmanuals/files/Inter_Rec_for_Distribut_Trade_Stat.pdf

• Methodological guide for Producer Price Indices for Services, (EC) 2005 http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/ramon/statmanuals/files/KS-BG-06-003-EN.pdf

• Evolution of Service Statistics, proceedings of a seminar, (EC) 2002 http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/ramon/statmanuals/files/KS-BG-02-001-__-N-EN.pdf

• Consumer Price Index Manual, Theory and Practice, 2004 (ILO) http://www.ilo.org/public/english/bureau/stat/guides/cpi/index.htm

• Practical Guide to Producing Consumer Price Indices, 2009 (UNECE/ILO) http://www.unece.org/stats/publications/Practical_Guide_to_Producing_CPI.pdf

• Producer Price Index Manual, Theory and Practice, 2004 (IMF) http://www.imf.org/external/np/sta/tegppi/index.htm

• Export and Import Price Manual, 2008 (IMF) http://www.imf.org/external/np/sta/tegeipi/index.htm

Time Series Recommendations

• Fixed base indices and/or absolute values for discrete periods to be provided

• New series should be linked to the old series to produce continuous series

• Cumulative statistics should be published only as additional information

• If seasonality influences the indicator, seasonally adjusted and trend series to be published

• Reference period should be a year and be updated when the weights are updated

Importance of Long Time Series (1)

• Long and consistent time series important for

• International comparison
• Analysis
• Appraisal of business cycles

• Current practices of countries vary significantly

• Currently no international standards on:

• Length of time series
• Methods for backcasting
• Implementing changes of classifications

Importance of Long Time Series (2)

• STS regulation (EC) requires time series from 2000, Eurostat recommends much longer series

• Methodology of Short-Term Business Statistics:

• “To carry out statistical analysis such as seasonal adjustment it is generally considered necessary to have observations for a minimum of 5 years…

• …for example, in the search for turning points it is important to be able to have data available for several complete cycles.”

Dissemination

• Data should be released as soon as possible

• Trade off between timeliness and quality

• Data to be released according to a set timetable

• Confidentiality to be secured

• Data made available to all users at the same time

• Data to be revised as new information is available

• Data to be accompanied by explanations

• Contact details of relevant statisticians to be given

Reference Period

• Some guidelines by IMF and Eurostat:

• Prices, output and sales
• Monthly
• (GDP), labour variables at least
• Quarterly (un/employment monthly)

Timeliness Guidelines

• Some guidelines by IMF and Eurostat

Metadata and Dissemination Guides

•