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.
Activities covered: The survey covers approximately NACE Rev. 2.1 Sections B to E. Manufacturing: division C10-33 in NACE Rev.
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
Turnover: the value of the sales own products and services (excluding goods purchased for resale in the same condition as received) invoiced (excluding VAT). Turnover is divided in domestic and exports. Turnover excludes VAT and other similar deductible taxes directly linked to turnover as well as all duties and taxes on the goods or services invoiced by the unit.
No changes in data collection are foreseen, other than the use of VAT information to calibrate the results of the sample survey.
3.5. Statistical unit
Reporting unit Enterprise (legal unit). Observation unit(s) The enterprise and parts of enterprises (presumed to be KAUs).
3.6. Statistical population
The statistical population comprises the observation units (enterprises) that are economically active in the sectors B to E (NACE Rev. 2) in the period under review.
For 2024, there are ± 84.000 enterprises in the population.
3.7. Reference area
Geographical area covered: The geographical area covered by the survey is the Netherlands - no regions are excluded.
Overseas territories are not included in the figures.
3.8. Coverage - Time
Date of first use as a source: 1995 - onwards
3.9. Base period
Base (reference) year: 2021=100
Indexes. Also percentage change published nationally.
Month
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
Legal basis: Statistics Netherlands is fully independent in terms of its statistical operations with respect to methodology and publications. Independence was granted by the Royal Act of 1899 and reconfirmed by law in 1996 and 2003. The CBS Law of 2003 is available in English and Dutch
Short-term business statistics are provided on the basis of the European business statistics (EBS) regulation starting with reference periods in 2021. More information on the changes and new data requirements introduced by the EBS regulation can be found in the article European business statistics.
6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing
Statistiscs Netherlands makes available all the non-confidential data on its website. Selected data in special formats are transmitted monthly to Eurostat.
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
Statistics Netherlands is fully independent in terms of its statistical operations with respect to methodology and publications. Independence was granted by the Royal Act of 1899 and reconfirmed by law in 1996 and 2003. Data provision was made compulsory by law in 1936. Confidentiality is guaranteed. Individual data are never published without consent.
The data are released simultaneously to all interested parties at 6:30 a.m. CET.
Data are sent to Eurostat via Edamis.
At the same time the data is also sent to subscribers by e-mail. The untitled press release is subsequently posted on the Statistics Netherlands Internet website.
There is no government access to the data before their release to the public.
Data are sent to Eurostat for EU aggregates and as well released as national data.
10.6. Documentation on methodology
Dissemination of documentation on methodology and sources used in preparing statistics: a methodological description is available Omzet en productie | CBS (Dutch only).
10.7. Quality management - documentation
Not available.
11.1. Quality assurance
There are different policies and procedures guarantying quality. Statical improvements are reviewed by an independent department. There is also a list of methods that have been accepted as best practice. New statistics should use these methods or only deviate with good reasons. Every month the results of the IPI statistics are validated by a independent statistician.
The general quality of the Industrial turnover is considered good. All quality aspects have been covered.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
EBS/STS provide statistical information necessary to monitor the competitiveness and performance of the business community in the EU. The EBS/STS are used by different users (European Commission and ECB, national governments and central banks, economic analysts in private companies and financial institutions) and serve different purposes.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
User satisfaction is measured via download statistics of the online databank and with ad hoc user consultations. Further there is no systematic collection of user opinion. Feedback is occasionally given in meetings, email or telephone contacts etc.
12.3. Completeness
Eurostat requirements are fulfilled.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
The accuracy is tackled by eliminating as much as possible non-sampling errors, by calculating sampling errors and studying and analysing revisions.
13.2. Sampling error
Sampling errors are calculated on an irregular basis, in order to update/optimise the sample design if needed.
13.3. Non-sampling error
Response rate: The response rate reaches 80% at the time of the first publication. After 3 months the response rate has gradually grown to a rate of over 95%.
Actions to speed up or increase the rate of response: Missing responses are followed up by reminders in a first stage and then by telephone contacts.
14.1. Timeliness
Timeliness: First release: within 40 days after the reference month. Monthly corrections are made due to late reporting of enterprises. Three months after the end of the month under review the index is considered to be of good quality; subsequent changes are generally minor. The production index is final after one year, when December is final, with the firts publication of March next year.
Timetable of data collection: Questionnaires are sent to the reporting unit at the end of the reference month.
14.2. Punctuality
All releases are published according to the release calendar.
For 2024, all the deadlines were respected.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
Whole national territory is covered.
15.2. Comparability - over time
The time series 2005 and further should be comparable over time, since no major changes in methodology or sources have been implemented in that period. Some smaller adjustments have been made to the business register in 2006 and 2009.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
Dissemination of information that support statistical cross-checks and provide assurance of reasonableness: Cross-checking is facilitated by using the same frame in different statistics (Business register) and by using the NACE classification system.
Confrontation with other data sets: The results are NOT confronted with the results of other data sources.
15.4. Coherence - internal
The main aggregates (Both NACE and MIG) are always consistent with the subaggregates.
Higher NACE aggregates are calculated by weighing the lowest level NACE aggregates.
The sample survey is almost 5250 each month or 63.000 each year. The total burden for respondents is estimated to be about 16.000 manhours annualy.
The cost for the statistical office (data collection, editing, processing etc) is estimated to be about 8.000 manhours annualy.
These costs cover the EBS/STS and the national requirements
17.1. Data revision - policy
The Statistical office release policy makes a distinction between adjustments, corrections and revisions.
The published results can be changed over time due to several reasons:
1. Adjustments are changes due to extra information from enterprises: The data of max. the last four reference months are provisional and can be adjusted once a month if new information is available.
2. Corrections for large, apparent mistakes (for example serious editing or processing errors): This type of change is applied very rarely
3. Revisions are due to the change of methodology or base year.
New figures are published once a month for EBS/STS purposes. Figures of max. three preceding periods can be adjusted due to extra information available.
The same revision policy is applied internally and in transmission to Eurostat.
17.2. Data revision - practice
The revision policy is described in the explanation of the online database tables.
The source for the industrial turnover is a statistical survey. The same source is used also for industrial production.
For some Classes of industry the information necessary to calculate production is collected more on a ad-hoc basis from individual enterprises or institutions. In particular in the food, basic metal, machine and car industry.
Questionnaires used in the survey: monthly questionnaire on sales and some additional branch-specific information.
Regarding industrial production data source about 60 percent of the indicator in terms of weight relate to deflated turnover, 16 percent to measurement of physical output, 11 percent to net bookings, 9 percent to hours worked, 2 percent to calculated value added at constant prices, and the rest to various other methods.
Frame on which the source is based: The General Business Register (Algemeen Bedrijfsregister - ABR).
Sample or census: Census Survey with cut-off threshold
Criteria for stratification: For mining and manufacturing industries it is a census approach. In Mining a threshold of 10 persons employed is applied. In Manufacturing a threshold of 20 persons employed is applied. The selected enterprises represent around 90% of gross production. Units with less than 20 employees (not queried) represent around 10%.
Threshold values and percentages: About 5250 units are surveyed every month. Units with more than 20 persons employed are surveyed exhaustively. Units with less then 20 persons employed are not surveyed for Manufacturing.
Frequency of updating the sample: monthly.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Data collection is monthly.
18.3. Data collection
Most of the data collection is done by electronic means, both e-mail and uploading, after receiving a log-in code by mail.
18.4. Data validation
Data validation is performed as a final step before releasing/disseminating the data. The validation is performed by an independent statistician.
Before sending to Eurostat, data are also validated in the Converter Web App.
18.5. Data compilation
Estimates for non-response: Non-response for turnover is treated using imputation techniques. The estimation is done by using growth rates of the known average of a particular industry multiplied with the value of the previous month.
Estimates for grossing-up to population levels: The grossing up is based on the latest completed monthly Total number of enterprises per stratum in the General Business Register adjusted for population errors (such as non-active enterprises). The ratio of the total number of enterprise (N) within a given stratum to the corresponding number of enterprises (n) of the sample gives the grossing-up factor for the stratum. ; The turnover index is a composite-weighted value index.
Type of index: The composite index is weighted by the monthly values of the underlying strata.
Method of weighting and chaining: The base year weights are based on SBS information. No chain linking is used to extend time series.
18.6. Adjustment
Working day and seasonal adjustment calculations: since 2000 working day adjusted figures (X12-Arima) have been published at the 2-digit level as well as seasonally adjusted figures (X12-Arima) for regroupings of the 2-digit level.
Turnover: the value of the sales own products and services (excluding goods purchased for resale in the same condition as received) invoiced (excluding VAT). Turnover is divided in domestic and exports. Turnover excludes VAT and other similar deductible taxes directly linked to turnover as well as all duties and taxes on the goods or services invoiced by the unit.
No changes in data collection are foreseen, other than the use of VAT information to calibrate the results of the sample survey.
Reporting unit Enterprise (legal unit). Observation unit(s) The enterprise and parts of enterprises (presumed to be KAUs).
The statistical population comprises the observation units (enterprises) that are economically active in the sectors B to E (NACE Rev. 2) in the period under review.
For 2024, there are ± 84.000 enterprises in the population.
Geographical area covered: The geographical area covered by the survey is the Netherlands - no regions are excluded.
Overseas territories are not included in the figures.
Month
The accuracy is tackled by eliminating as much as possible non-sampling errors, by calculating sampling errors and studying and analysing revisions.
Indexes. Also percentage change published nationally.
Estimates for non-response: Non-response for turnover is treated using imputation techniques. The estimation is done by using growth rates of the known average of a particular industry multiplied with the value of the previous month.
Estimates for grossing-up to population levels: The grossing up is based on the latest completed monthly Total number of enterprises per stratum in the General Business Register adjusted for population errors (such as non-active enterprises). The ratio of the total number of enterprise (N) within a given stratum to the corresponding number of enterprises (n) of the sample gives the grossing-up factor for the stratum. ; The turnover index is a composite-weighted value index.
Type of index: The composite index is weighted by the monthly values of the underlying strata.
Method of weighting and chaining: The base year weights are based on SBS information. No chain linking is used to extend time series.
The source for the industrial turnover is a statistical survey. The same source is used also for industrial production.
For some Classes of industry the information necessary to calculate production is collected more on a ad-hoc basis from individual enterprises or institutions. In particular in the food, basic metal, machine and car industry.
Questionnaires used in the survey: monthly questionnaire on sales and some additional branch-specific information.
Regarding industrial production data source about 60 percent of the indicator in terms of weight relate to deflated turnover, 16 percent to measurement of physical output, 11 percent to net bookings, 9 percent to hours worked, 2 percent to calculated value added at constant prices, and the rest to various other methods.
Frame on which the source is based: The General Business Register (Algemeen Bedrijfsregister - ABR).
Sample or census: Census Survey with cut-off threshold
Criteria for stratification: For mining and manufacturing industries it is a census approach. In Mining a threshold of 10 persons employed is applied. In Manufacturing a threshold of 20 persons employed is applied. The selected enterprises represent around 90% of gross production. Units with less than 20 employees (not queried) represent around 10%.
Threshold values and percentages: About 5250 units are surveyed every month. Units with more than 20 persons employed are surveyed exhaustively. Units with less then 20 persons employed are not surveyed for Manufacturing.
Frequency of updating the sample: monthly.
Results are disseminated once a month.
Timeliness: First release: within 40 days after the reference month. Monthly corrections are made due to late reporting of enterprises. Three months after the end of the month under review the index is considered to be of good quality; subsequent changes are generally minor. The production index is final after one year, when December is final, with the firts publication of March next year.
Timetable of data collection: Questionnaires are sent to the reporting unit at the end of the reference month.
Whole national territory is covered.
The time series 2005 and further should be comparable over time, since no major changes in methodology or sources have been implemented in that period. Some smaller adjustments have been made to the business register in 2006 and 2009.
