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 Statistics Office, Lascaris Valletta, VLT 2000, Malta.
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
13 June 2025
2.2. Metadata last posted
13 June 2025
2.3. Metadata last update
13 June 2025
3.1. Data description
The index describes the development of turnover in the services industries.
3.2. Classification system
The classifications used in STS is NACE rev.2.
3.3. Coverage - sector
Services turnover covers the following level of detail according to NACE Rev 2 classification: H49, H50, H51, H52, H53, H55, H56, J58, J59, J60, J61, J62, J63, L68, M68, M70.20, M71, M73, M74, N77, N78, N79, N80, N81, N82.
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
Turnover includes total sales and other income and is expressed net of VAT. Turnover is presented in current prices.
3.5. Statistical unit
Observation Unit: Kind of Activity.
Reporting Unit: Legal.
3.6. Statistical population
The statistical population is around 6000 units and includes all those falling under NACE Sections H-N except K. 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
Quarterly data is available from 2000 - 2020. Monthly data is available from 2021 onwards.
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
The NSO was established by virtue of the Malta Statistics Authority Act XXIV of 2000 and replaced the Central Office of Statistics as from 1 March 2001.
Please find more information at this website (Legislation).
The EU Legislative Framework is the European Business Statistics Regulations.
Please more information is available at this website (Legislation).
Specifically, Regulation (EU) 2019/2152 and Commission Implementing Regulation 2020/1197 laying down technical specifications.
6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing
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 1100 hrs as scheduled in the Advance Release Calendar. The calendar is published on the NSO website (Release calendar) 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 NSO's website.
Data is also transmitted to Eurostat after this is published nationally.
Eurostat transmissions for these indices are carried out on a quarterly basis and 60 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's 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's 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 indicator 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 quarterly 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 these websites:
Overall, the quality of the index 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.
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
Coefficient of variation is calculated to be around 3.18%.
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 make use of administrative data (VAT) whenever possible and the use of the donor imputation technique using Euclidean distance to fill non-response.
The weighted response rate is 75% overall with various NACE Sections registering over 80% response. Turnover is the weighting variable used to compile such response rate.
14.1. Timeliness
The index is disseminated 60 days after the end of the reference period.
14.2. Punctuality
The NSO is committed to adhere to the timelines established by the EBS (European Business Statistics) Regulations 2021 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 Regulations and STS Methodological Guidelines. 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.
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 these data.
The Mean Aboslute Revision (MAR) and Mean Revision (MR) are similiar to those exhibited in the trade domain. Figures are found below:
MAR = 0.03
MR = 0.03
18.1. Source data
Data are based on a sample survey of around 700 units which is refreshed every 5 years.
Turnover and employment are the main variables used to design the sample.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
The frequency of data collection is quarterly.
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 type for data to be transmitted to Eurostat is the SDMX-ML version.
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.
Please see the file attached (Services turnover) for more details.
The index describes the development of turnover in the services industries.
13 June 2025
Turnover includes total sales and other income and is expressed net of VAT. Turnover is presented in current prices.
Observation Unit: Kind of Activity.
Reporting Unit: Legal.
The statistical population is around 6000 units and includes all those falling under NACE Sections H-N except K. 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 type for data to be transmitted to Eurostat is the SDMX-ML version.
Data are based on a sample survey of around 700 units which is refreshed every 5 years.
Turnover and employment are the main variables used to design the sample.
Eurostat transmissions for these indices are carried out on a quarterly basis and 60 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 60 days after the end of the reference period.
To ensure geographical comparability across member states the index is compiled according to the EBS Regulations and STS Methodological Guidelines. 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.
