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 monthly survey on turnover of the services is a sampling survey aimed to produce short term indicators for the sectors considered. The survey has realized in accordance with EU Regulation 2019/2152 on short term statistics. A provisional index is published about 60 days from reference period and it will be revised and published as definitive one about 90 days. The main topics observed are Turnover of services companies.
3.2. Classification system
NACE Rev. 2.
3.3. Coverage - sector
NACE Rev. 2 Sections H, I, J, L, M (excluding Group 70.1 and Division 72, 75), N.
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
The variables collected by the questionnaires are net turnover and number of persons employed, as auxiliary variable.
Net turnover consists of all income arising during the reference period in the course of ordinary activities of the statistical unit, and is presented net of all price reductions, discounts and rebates granted by it. Income is defined as increases in economic benefits during the reference period in the form of inflows or enhancements of assets or decreases of liabilities that result in increases in equity, other than those relating to contributions from equity participants.
The inflows referred to are arising from contracts with customers and are realized through the satisfaction by the statistical unit of performance obligations as foreseen in said contracts. Usually, a performance obligation is represented by the sale (transfer) of goods or the rendering of services, however, the gross inflows can also contain revenues obtained as a yield on the use by others of the statistical unit’s assets.
Excluded from net turnover are:
all taxes, duties or levies linked directly to revenue;
any amounts collected on behalf of any principal, if the statistical unit is acting as an agent in its relationship with said principal;
all income not arising in the course of ordinary activities of the statistical unit. Usually, these types of income are classified as Other (operating) income, Financial income, Extra-ordinary income or under a similar heading, depending on the respective set of generally accepted accounting standards used to prepare the financial statements.
Employment data correspond to the total number of persons employed at the end of the reference period. This total includes all persons linked to the enterprise by a direct work contract, on the basis of which they receive a payment.
3.5. Statistical unit
The observation unit is the enterprise. Some major enterprises are observed at a more detailed level, i.e. at the level of kind of activity units (KAU). These enterprises divide their turnover among main and one or more secondary activities, which is then included in suitable activity.The observation unit is the kind of activity units (KAU). In most cases KAU coincides with the enterprise (legal unit), except for some major enterprises. These enterprises break down their turnover among main and one or more secondary activities, which is then included in suitable activity.
3.6. Statistical population
The population of enterprises belonging to the economic activities of NACE Rev.2 H, I, J, L, M (excluding Group 70.1 and Division 72, 75), N. The frame for identifying units for the population is the Business Register (Archivio Statistico delle Imprese Attive, ASIA).
3.7. Reference area
Italy - The whole national territory
3.8. Coverage - Time
The data are available from January 2021.
3.9. Base period
Starting april 2024 indices are in base 2021=100 according to Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2021/1003 granting derogations to certain Member States with respect to the transmission of statistics pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2019/2152 of the European Parliament and of the Council and Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197.
Indices
Month
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
This is one of the mandatory surveys fixed every year by a Decree of the President of the Republic (D.P.R.). The legal basis for the STS indicators are the Regulation (EU) 2019/2152 of the European Parliament and of the Council on European business statistics, repealing 10 legal acts in the field of business statistics (EBS-Regulation) and the Commission Implementing Regulation 2020/1197 ANNEX VII laying down technical specifications and arrangements pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2019/2152 (General Implementing Act). Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2021/1003 granting derogations to certain Member States with respect to the transmission of statistics pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2019/2152 of the European Parliament and of the Council and Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197.
6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing
Data are sent only to Eurostat (not to other international organizations).
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
Several national legal acts guarantee the confidentiality of data requested for statistical purposes. According to art. 9, paragraph 1 of the Legislative Decree n. 322 of 1989, personal data can only be disseminated in aggregate form, in order to make it impossible to identify individuals, and can only be used for statistical purposes. Legislative Decree n. 322 of 1989, art. 6 bis and Legislative Decree n. 196 of 2003 Annex A3 (Code of conduct and professional practice applying to the processing of personal data for statistical and scientific research purposes within the framework of the National Statistical System), art. 8, provide that the exchange of personal data within the National Statistical System (Sistan) is possible if it is necessary to fulfil requirements provided by the National Statistical Programme or to allow the pursuit of institutional purposes. The supply of the identification data of statistical units is allowed within the framework of entities included in the National Statistical System if the requesting party declares that no identical statistical result can be obtained otherwise. Regarding subjects who do not belong to Sistan, Article. 7 of the Code of conduct (Decree n. 196/2003, Annex A3) states that it is possible to transmit individual data files without direct identifiers within the framework of specific laboratories set up by entities included in the National Statistical System, under certain conditions and only if that the data are protected by the application of statistical methods that make it highly unlikely the identification of statistical units. Links to relevant legal acts on statistics are also listed on the website of Sistan - National Statistical System - SISTAN
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
There are no confidentiality issues at the present time.
8.1. Release calendar
Every year in December Istat publishes a release calendar providing the precise release dates for the coming year. The calendar is distributed to the press and is available free of charge to interested parties.
8.2. Release calendar access
The press calendar is also disseminated on Istat web site.
Monthly press releases are disseminated as provisional at about 60 days after the end of the reference month. Final data are released 90 days after the end of the reference month.
10.1. Dissemination format - News release
Data releases 'Turnover in services' are posted on Istat website according to a prefixed annual release calendar, published by the previous December. Turnover in industry and services is a monthly press release with graphs and tables that ease the data analysis; a short text explains recent evolution for the phenomenon. It includes information on methodological aspects through a “Methodological note”, attached to the press release.
10.2. Dissemination format - Publications
Data are also disseminated through the statistical yearbook: "Annuario Statistico Italiano" (ASI) - Italian Statistical Yearbook
10.3. Dissemination format - online database
Monthly data are disseminated in Istat database (IstatData), theme Services, data set Indexes of turnover in other services. The on-line database IstatData is open and free, statistics are organised by theme in a two-level hierarchical tree. Data are presented in aggregate form in multidimensional tables; acting on variables, reference periods and the arrangement of heads and sides users can create custom tables and graphs. Datasets can be searched by keyword, theme and region. A wide range of standard metadata facilitates the retrieval and understanding of statistics by users.
10.4. Dissemination format - microdata access
Validated microdata are stored in the repository of the Institute, ARMIDA. This repository also collects additional useful information, such as metadata and classifications, to ensure the correct interpretation of the data.
10.5. Dissemination format - other
Data transmitted to Eurostat via Edamis.
10.6. Documentation on methodology
The methodology and characteristics of the survey are described in the technical explanatory note which is regularly updated and attached to the monthly press release. Concerning indexes with base 2021, further details can be found in the Nota informativa available on Istat’s website.
10.7. Quality management - documentation
Information about procedures applied for quality management and assessment are available in the document "Quality Guidelines for Statistical Processes" - December 2012 The Istat Information system on quality of statistical production processes SIQual contains information on the execution on Istat statistical production processes and on activities developed to guarantee quality of the produced statistical information.
11.1. Quality assurance
Since the 90s Istat adopted a systematic approach to ensure quality in both statistical information and service to the community. For this purpose the Institute has defined a quality policy providing itself with appropriate tools as well as management changes to carry it out. Istat quality policy is coherent with the European framework developed by Eurostat, taking up its main principles and definitions. In 2005, the European Statistics Code of Practice (revised in 2011) established the principles to follow in order to ensure and strengthen both accountability and governance of the European Statistical System and the National Statistical Systems inside it. Essential points of Istat quality policy are: Process quality: consisting in the production of accurate statistical information efficiently and effectively; Product quality: consisting in the dissemination of high-quality timely statistical data which are relevant for the users, also the potential ones; Documentation: consisting in the storage and availability of information necessary not only for a proper use of data but also to ensure transparency in all the production activities of statistical data; Respect for respondents: consisting in the reduction of response burden and in the respect of respondent's privacy; Strengthening of statistical literacy: consisting in promoting a proper use of statistical information in policy-making to better support decisions and policies; Users' orientation: consisting in making statistical information easily accessible and understandable and in satisfying user needs as much as possible.
11.2. Quality management - assessment
In 2010 this survey was submitted to an audit on quality in a testing phase.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
Main users turnover sales index are:
Institutions: government departments, ECB, national central bank, international organisations, etc.
Social actors: employers' organisations, trade unions, lobby groups, etc.
Media
Researchers & students
Enterprises/businesses
Internal users
Eurostat
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
Not available
12.3. Completeness
European requirements are fulfilled.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
The heterogeneity of structural characteristics across the sectors under examination necessitated the adoption of varied methods for selecting enterprises to participate in the survey.
In sectors featuring a substantial number of enterprises with relatively uniform characteristics, stratified simple random sampling designs were preferred. These designs are stratified by economic activity categories or groups and business size. In sectors where market dynamics are primarily influenced by a small number of large enterprises (such as divisions 50 - Water transport. 51 - Air transport. 53 - Postal and courier activities. 61 - Telecommunications. and 78 - Employment activities), cut-off unit selection schemes have been implemented. These schemes involve selecting larger enterprises until they collectively represent a significant portion, typically over 80%, of the total sector turnover.
For other sectors, a random sample selection of enterprises was performed, specifying a threshold (measured in terms of number of employees) to identify the reference subpopulation of enterprises. As a general rule, a minimum threshold of 2 employees has been set. However, exceptions apply to sectors with a higher prevalence of medium-large enterprises, where the threshold is set at 5 employees (49.1 - Passenger rail transport. 49.2 - Freight rail transport. 52 - Warehousing and support activities for transportation). In sectors where medium-small enterprises predominate, a stratified simple random sampling design was chosen. This design involved stratifying enterprises based on economic activity (at the group level. 3 digits of the Ateco 2007 classification) and business size (measured by employee class: 2 to 5. 5 to 20. and 20 to 100 employees, with the upper limit of each class excluded) as stratification variables. Enterprises with at least 100 employees constituted the self-representative stratum.
For the sectors Real estate activities (Section L) of Professional,Scientific and Technical Activities (section M) and Administrative and Support Service Activities (section N) different rules were applied. In sectors with a notable presence of small-sized enterprises (68 – Real estate activities, 69 - Legal and accounting activities, 70.2 - Management consultancy activities, 71 - Architectural and engineering activities; technical testing and analysis, 74 - Other professional, scientific and technical activities), no employee threshold was established. Instead, sample units were chosen from the subset of enterprises with an annual turnover exceeding 50.000 euros. For Travel agency, tour operator reservation service and related activities (division 79) the threshold value is set at 2 employees. for Advertising and market research (division 73) it is set at 5 employees, while for Security and investigation activities (division 80) this value is set at 20 employees. In general, employee classes are defined as follows: from 1 to 2 employees, from 2 to 5 employees, from 5 to 10 employees, from 10 to 20 employees, from 20 to 50 employees, from 50 to 100 employees, with the upper limit of each class excluded. For Cleaning activities (group 81.2) an additional class, from 100 to 250 employees, was used, and enterprises with a number of employees equal to or greater than 250 constituted the self-representative stratum.
The calculation of sample sizes within strata was conducted using the Mauss-R software.
13.2. Sampling error
The sampling error for the sampled subpopulation is measured in terms of coefficient of variation and is set equal to 3% for all the estimates domain except for division 55 where is equal to 5%.
13.3. Non-sampling error
Non-responding enterprises are contacted by email reminders. The most important enterprises in terms of turnover are contacted by telephone.
Non-sampling errors are reduced or eliminated in the collection phase both using an electronic questionnaire that helps debugging and aiming at an increase of the response rate of enterprises.
14.1. Timeliness
Monthly press releases are disseminated as provisional 60 days after the end of the reference period. Final data are released 90 days after the end of the reference period. Both national and Eurostat level.
14.2. Punctuality
Both European and national releases are punctual, adhering to the designated timelines for dissemination.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
Not available
15.2. Comparability - over time
Data on main aggregates are comparable since 2021.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
Dissemination of information that support statistical cross-checks and provide assurance of reasonableness are not available. The estimated levels of turnover and number of persons employed coming from the survey are compared with those provided by Structural Business Statistics.
15.4. Coherence - internal
Internal coherence between aggregates is verified.
The cost estimate is compiled in terms of total number of hours worked (THW). It is equal to the product of three terms: (total) Annual Working Days (AWD), (total) Hours Worked per Day (HWD), Number of Persons involved in the Survey (NPS).
AWD
HWD
NPS
Cost estimate (THW)
220
7.12
4,5
7,049
The burden estimate is compiled in terms of total number ofminutes (TNM) taken to fill in the (web) questionnaire. The burden is applied to respondent, i.e. the person who fills in the questionnaire on behalf of the enterprise. To estimate it, two elements have been taken into account. The former distinguishes between beginner and expert respondent, to point out respectively the person who fills in the web questionnaire for the first time and the one who is familiar with filling in the form. The latter, closely concerns the information that have to be monthly provided. On average, by combining these two elements, the time spent to fill in the questionnaire (just the burden) is estimated in terms of total number of minutes between a minimum and a maximum threshold.
Type of Respondent
Burden estimate (TNM)
Beginner
15 min. ≤burden≤ 30 min.
Expert
5 min. ≤burden≤ 10 min.
17.1. Data revision - policy
Routine revisions
1) Monthly revision: indices referred to month m are revised after one month when indices referred to month m+1 are released. They take into account late respondents (estimated values for missing responses are replaced by reported figures) and correction from respondents;
2) Once a year data are revised in order to take into account changes due to:
a) late respondents and correction from respondents;
b) corporate events (merger, split-up, etc.);
c) updating of business registers.
Major revisions
Performed every five years, when of a new base year is introduced, they take into account new weighting systems and sample adjustments. The same revision policy is applied nationally and in transmission to Eurostat.
17.2. Data revision - practice
The data are provisional at the time of the Press Release in which they are reported. Generally, major changes in methodology, sources and statistical techniques are announced in ad hoc publications. Advance notification of methodological changes is also provided through seminars and papers disseminated throughout the scientific community. Quarterly revisions (routine revisions) are also scheduled and concern both indexes transmitted to Eurostat and indexes nationally released.
The Mean Revision (MR), the Mean Absolute Revision (MAR) and the RMAR (Relative Mean Absolute Revision) indicators are here reported for the unadjusted FAS quarterly percentage changes and the seasonally adjusted FAS percentage changes. These indicators refer to 12 values for monthly data.
Unadjusted
Period
MR
MAR
RMAR
MAXAR
2024
0.025
0.342
9.6%
1.3
Seasonally adjusted
Period
MR
MAR
RMAR
MAXAR
2024
-0.1
0.167
15.2%
0.5
18.1. Source data
The data are collected through a statistical survey. The frame on which the source is based is business register managed and yearly updated by Istat(Archivio Statistico delle Imprese Attive-ASIA). The surveys for Divisions 50,51,53 and 61 are carried out on the basis of a non-random sample,selecting the enterprises in order to have a turnover coverage of about 80,90%. For other divisions a stratified sample is selected. The overall sample size is about 25,000 enterprises. Two criteria for stratification are taken into account: economic activity(Division or Group) and size of the enterprise(number of employees). The threshold is given by number of persons employed classe. At the beginning of every year the samples of the surveys are updated to manage panel attrition.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
The data are collected monthly.
18.3. Data collection
Self-administered data collection via electronic transmission, data are collected through a web portal called Portale Imprese. Respondents need to login for insert data in the web questionnaire.
18.4. Data validation
Every questionnaire is checked during data entry; every variable is checked through a comparison with past values according to a coherence criterion. Outlier observations are identified: a) for most of the divisions according to the analysis of individual time series; b) for the other indicators, on the basis of the class="SpellE">Hidiroglou-Berthelot method (based on quartiles of the empirical frequency distribution) and a macro-editing technique.
18.5. Data compilation
Non responses are estimated at micro-level by modelling. For the probabilistic sample surveys the results are grossed up using sample final weights applied to each respondent unit in each estimation domain. Final weights are obtained multiplying the inverse of inclusion probabilities by a unit nonresponse correction factor. The index is calculated by Laspeyres formula with fixed base 2021=100. For all indicators a weight system is derived from the Structural Business Statistics for the base year.
18.6. Adjustment
The seasonally adjusted data (Tramo/Seats procedure) are released for the longer series available. The COVID-19 pandemic emergency has not determined, in the period of conduction of the collection of the basic information, particular criticality in the survey on the turnover in services. Overall even if working under critical conditions, the majority of the businesses involved in the survey provided the information required. Taking into account the extraordinary changes in turnover recorded from the first quarter 2020, models for time series treatment included additional regressors when necessary. Series were seasonally adjusted following official Eurostat guidelines. This procedure may continue in the next quarters until the information collected will offer a clear insight and therefore statistical models for seasonal adjustment might be revised.
The monthly survey on turnover of the services is a sampling survey aimed to produce short term indicators for the sectors considered. The survey has realized in accordance with EU Regulation 2019/2152 on short term statistics. A provisional index is published about 60 days from reference period and it will be revised and published as definitive one about 90 days. The main topics observed are Turnover of services companies.
13 June 2025
The variables collected by the questionnaires are net turnover and number of persons employed, as auxiliary variable.
Net turnover consists of all income arising during the reference period in the course of ordinary activities of the statistical unit, and is presented net of all price reductions, discounts and rebates granted by it. Income is defined as increases in economic benefits during the reference period in the form of inflows or enhancements of assets or decreases of liabilities that result in increases in equity, other than those relating to contributions from equity participants.
The inflows referred to are arising from contracts with customers and are realized through the satisfaction by the statistical unit of performance obligations as foreseen in said contracts. Usually, a performance obligation is represented by the sale (transfer) of goods or the rendering of services, however, the gross inflows can also contain revenues obtained as a yield on the use by others of the statistical unit’s assets.
Excluded from net turnover are:
all taxes, duties or levies linked directly to revenue;
any amounts collected on behalf of any principal, if the statistical unit is acting as an agent in its relationship with said principal;
all income not arising in the course of ordinary activities of the statistical unit. Usually, these types of income are classified as Other (operating) income, Financial income, Extra-ordinary income or under a similar heading, depending on the respective set of generally accepted accounting standards used to prepare the financial statements.
Employment data correspond to the total number of persons employed at the end of the reference period. This total includes all persons linked to the enterprise by a direct work contract, on the basis of which they receive a payment.
The observation unit is the enterprise. Some major enterprises are observed at a more detailed level, i.e. at the level of kind of activity units (KAU). These enterprises divide their turnover among main and one or more secondary activities, which is then included in suitable activity.The observation unit is the kind of activity units (KAU). In most cases KAU coincides with the enterprise (legal unit), except for some major enterprises. These enterprises break down their turnover among main and one or more secondary activities, which is then included in suitable activity.
The population of enterprises belonging to the economic activities of NACE Rev.2 H, I, J, L, M (excluding Group 70.1 and Division 72, 75), N. The frame for identifying units for the population is the Business Register (Archivio Statistico delle Imprese Attive, ASIA).
Italy - The whole national territory
Month
The heterogeneity of structural characteristics across the sectors under examination necessitated the adoption of varied methods for selecting enterprises to participate in the survey.
In sectors featuring a substantial number of enterprises with relatively uniform characteristics, stratified simple random sampling designs were preferred. These designs are stratified by economic activity categories or groups and business size. In sectors where market dynamics are primarily influenced by a small number of large enterprises (such as divisions 50 - Water transport. 51 - Air transport. 53 - Postal and courier activities. 61 - Telecommunications. and 78 - Employment activities), cut-off unit selection schemes have been implemented. These schemes involve selecting larger enterprises until they collectively represent a significant portion, typically over 80%, of the total sector turnover.
For other sectors, a random sample selection of enterprises was performed, specifying a threshold (measured in terms of number of employees) to identify the reference subpopulation of enterprises. As a general rule, a minimum threshold of 2 employees has been set. However, exceptions apply to sectors with a higher prevalence of medium-large enterprises, where the threshold is set at 5 employees (49.1 - Passenger rail transport. 49.2 - Freight rail transport. 52 - Warehousing and support activities for transportation). In sectors where medium-small enterprises predominate, a stratified simple random sampling design was chosen. This design involved stratifying enterprises based on economic activity (at the group level. 3 digits of the Ateco 2007 classification) and business size (measured by employee class: 2 to 5. 5 to 20. and 20 to 100 employees, with the upper limit of each class excluded) as stratification variables. Enterprises with at least 100 employees constituted the self-representative stratum.
For the sectors Real estate activities (Section L) of Professional,Scientific and Technical Activities (section M) and Administrative and Support Service Activities (section N) different rules were applied. In sectors with a notable presence of small-sized enterprises (68 – Real estate activities, 69 - Legal and accounting activities, 70.2 - Management consultancy activities, 71 - Architectural and engineering activities; technical testing and analysis, 74 - Other professional, scientific and technical activities), no employee threshold was established. Instead, sample units were chosen from the subset of enterprises with an annual turnover exceeding 50.000 euros. For Travel agency, tour operator reservation service and related activities (division 79) the threshold value is set at 2 employees. for Advertising and market research (division 73) it is set at 5 employees, while for Security and investigation activities (division 80) this value is set at 20 employees. In general, employee classes are defined as follows: from 1 to 2 employees, from 2 to 5 employees, from 5 to 10 employees, from 10 to 20 employees, from 20 to 50 employees, from 50 to 100 employees, with the upper limit of each class excluded. For Cleaning activities (group 81.2) an additional class, from 100 to 250 employees, was used, and enterprises with a number of employees equal to or greater than 250 constituted the self-representative stratum.
The calculation of sample sizes within strata was conducted using the Mauss-R software.
Indices
Non responses are estimated at micro-level by modelling. For the probabilistic sample surveys the results are grossed up using sample final weights applied to each respondent unit in each estimation domain. Final weights are obtained multiplying the inverse of inclusion probabilities by a unit nonresponse correction factor. The index is calculated by Laspeyres formula with fixed base 2021=100. For all indicators a weight system is derived from the Structural Business Statistics for the base year.
The data are collected through a statistical survey. The frame on which the source is based is business register managed and yearly updated by Istat(Archivio Statistico delle Imprese Attive-ASIA). The surveys for Divisions 50,51,53 and 61 are carried out on the basis of a non-random sample,selecting the enterprises in order to have a turnover coverage of about 80,90%. For other divisions a stratified sample is selected. The overall sample size is about 25,000 enterprises. Two criteria for stratification are taken into account: economic activity(Division or Group) and size of the enterprise(number of employees). The threshold is given by number of persons employed classe. At the beginning of every year the samples of the surveys are updated to manage panel attrition.
Monthly press releases are disseminated as provisional at about 60 days after the end of the reference month. Final data are released 90 days after the end of the reference month.
Monthly press releases are disseminated as provisional 60 days after the end of the reference period. Final data are released 90 days after the end of the reference period. Both national and Eurostat level.
Not available
Data on main aggregates are comparable since 2021.
