Turnover index for transport, tourism and ICT, Q1 2008, preliminary figures

National level only

Frequency: Quarterly

Timeliness: The reference period is one quarter (i.e., 3 months). The index is published within 60 days after the end of the quarter. Figures should for a time be considered preliminary.

The index is reported to Eurostat immediately after release in Norway.

Primary data and compiled statistics are stored electronically in SAS files.

The aim of the statistics is to measure change in turnover among establishments in the transport, tourism and ICT industries according to EU regulations no. 1165/98 of May 19th 1998 and no. 1158/2005. Eurostat compiles similar statistics from other EEC-countries and publishes EEC-wide statistics.

Data have been collected since the first quarter of 2002 and the index was first published in June 2003. The reference year is 2010 (i.e., 2010=100).

Primary users of the statistics are public sector agencies (Central Bank of Norway, Departments, etc.), private sector agencies and various organisations within the transport, tourism and ICT industries. The index can for instance be used to analyse and monitor economic activity. At Statistics Norway the index is used by the Division for National accounts and for other research and analysis.

No external users have access to the statistics and analyses before they are published and accessible simultaneously for all users on ssb.no at 8 am. Prior to this, a minimum of three months' advance notice is given in the Statistics Release Calendar. This is one of Statistics Norway’s key principles for ensuring that all users are treated equally.

The turnover index is produced for the same industries as in the structural business statistics for transportation and storage , accommodation and food service activities , and information and communication .

The index is also used by the Division of National accounts to compile statistics.

The Statistics Act, Sections 2-1, 2-2, 2-3 and 3-2

The index is published according to EU regulations no. 1165/1998 and no. 1158/2005.

The population includes all establishments in Sections H: Transportation and storage , I: Accommodation and food service activities , and J Information and communication in the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC2007). Establishments in the public sector (sector codes 6100 and 6500) are not included.

The turnover index for transport, tourism and ICT is mainly calculated from data collected from the VAT register. These data are bimonthly, with six periods per year. The bimonthly data are converted into quarterly figures based on industry-specific information (for example number of working days, passengers or guest nights) in different months of the year.

Data for some industries are collected from other sources. Turnover from toll stations is exempt from VAT; data for SIC2007 52.213 Toll gate stations are therefore gathered directly from establishments in the industry. Data for SIC2007 49.1 Passenger rail transport, interurban, 49.2 Freight rail transport and 53.1 Postal activities under universal service obligation are also collected directly each quarter. For SIC2007 49.5 Transport via pipelines we use data released quarterly by the Divsion of National accounts .

No sampling. All units are included.

Statistics Norway receives bimonthly data from the Directorate of Taxes. Data are transmitted electronically, twice for each period. Figures are for a time preliminary and subject to revisions.

Data for SIC2007 52.213 Toll gate stations are collected each quarter directly from the establishments by telephone. Turnover from the enterprises in SIC2007 49.1 Passenger rail transport, interurban, 49.2 Freight rail transport and 53.1 Postal activities under universal service obligation are collected each quarter electronically. For SIC2007 49.5 Transport via pipelines we use production figures from Quarterly national accounts.

Controls are conducted at both macro and micro levels.

At a macro level, figures for each industry are compared to the corresponding period the previous year.

At a micro level, data from the Directorate of Taxes are checked for possible scanning errors. Subsequently, the establishments within each industry that contribute the most (in per cent) to the change in turnover are inspected. Establishments that have changed industries since the corresponding period the previous year are also checked. If necessary, establishments are contacted directly.

VAT units report their turnover to the Directorate of Taxes with the use of a VAT number. For establishments and enterprises that register under the same VAT number, turnover is distributed to each underlying unit based on data from the Central Register of Establishments and Enterprises. If the VAT unit is a single establishment enterprise, no estimation of turnover is required.

Due to the imposed deadline, the index is released before figures for the entire period has been collected. For instance, when figures for the first quarter are published, we only have data for the months of January and February and must therefore estimate the month of March. This estimation is carried out with the use of historical growth. Complete data for the first quarter is available upon publication of the second quarter.

Figures are subjected to calendar adjustment with the use of X-12-ARIMA. In this procedure, figures are adjusted for variations in the number of working days and for moving holidays.

Not relevant

The turnover index is released according to the directions given in the Statistics Act, section 2-6.

New business start-ups, bankruptcies and changes in industry classification may act to reduce comparability over time. The implementation of the new industry classification (SIC2007) may also have compromised comparability over time for some industries.