Slovenia - Retail Sales





Slovenia: Retail Sales

Mnemonic WRT.ISVN
Unit Index 2010=100, SA
Adjustments Seasonally Adjusted
Monthly 1.51 %
Data Dec 2017 117.97
Nov 2017 119.78

Series Information

Source Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia
Release Retail and Wholesale Trade Turnover
Frequency Monthly
Start Date 1/31/1998
End Date 12/31/2017

Slovenia: Consumer

Reference Last Previous Units Frequency
Consumer Confidence Feb 2024 -29 -28 Bal. of Opinion, SA Monthly
Retail Sales Dec 2017 117.97 119.78 Index 2010=100, SA Monthly

Release Information

For Slovenia, turnover in distributive trade is monitored with two monthly statistical surveys:

  • monthly statistical survey on enterprises registered in retail trade, sale and maintenance of motor vehicles,
  • monthly statistical survey on enterprises registered in wholesale and commission trade.

RETAIL TRADE

The purpose of the monthly statistical survey on enterprises registered in retail trade, sale and maintenance of motor vehicles is to monitor current monthly changes of turnover without VAT in above mentioned activities. The goal of the monthly estimation is early detection of changes in economic development. The index of retail trade, sale and maintenance of motor vehicles and retail sale of fuel is suitable for short-term observation and analyses of economic development.

WHOLESALE TRADE

The purpose of the monthly statistical survey on enterprises registered in wholesale and commission trade is to monitor current monthly changes of turnover without VAT in wholesale and commission trade (except wholesale of motor vehicles). The goal of the monthly estimation is early detection of changes in economic development. The index of wholesale and commission trade is suitable for short-term observation and analyses of economic development.

Observation units

RETAIL TRADE

Observation units are mostly the enterprises whose principal activity is classified into retail trade, sale and maintenance of motor vehicles. Data refer to the whole enterprise, including eventual secondary activity not related to above mentioned activities. In addition, there are several enterprises in Slovenia whose principal activity is not one of the activities mentioned above, but which carry out significant secondary activities. Due to this fact our results were adjusted by having added the corresponding part of retail trade, sale and maintenance of motor vehicles of these enterprises.

WHOLESALE TRADE

Observation units are mostly the enterprises whose principal activity is classified into wholesale trade and commission trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles. Data refer to the whole enterprise, including eventual secondary activity not related to commission trade and wholesale. In addition, there are several enterprises in Slovenia whose principal activity is not one of the activities mentioned above, but which carry out significant secondary activities. Due to this fact our results were adjusted by having added the corresponding part of commission trade and wholesale results of these enterprises.

Sources

RETAIL TRADE

We collect data on turnover with the monthly statistical survey on enterprises registered in retail trade, sale and maintenance of motor vehicles (TRG/M). Until the end of 2007 we collected data on turnover only from a sample of units with TRG/M questionnaires by the postal method.

Since 2008 the main sources of data on turnover are the data which are reported by enterprises to the Tax Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for the purpose of value added tax return (DDV-O form). The transition to the administrative source in 2008 as the main source of data was necessary in order to lower the response burden of enterprises. In order to provide results that are close enough to the statistical definition of the observed phenomenon and to stay in touch with the most important reporting units, we collect data on turnover directly from 270 units with the monthly TRG/M questionnaire by the postal method. The source of data is the accounting documentation of enterprises and only exceptionally their estimates.

WHOLESALE TRADE

We collect data on turnover with the monthly statistical survey on enterprises registered in wholesale and commission trade (TRG-D/M). In 2006 we started conducting the TRG-D/M survey, which partly replaced the quarterly report in the part that monitored commission trade and wholesale.  

The main sources of data on turnover (from 2006 on) are the data which are reported by enterprises to the Tax Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for the purpose of value added tax return (DDV-O form). The transition to the administrative source in 2006 as the main source of data was necessary in order to lower the response burden of enterprises. In order to provide results that are close enough to the statistical definition of the observed phenomenon and to stay in touch with the most important reporting units, we collect data on turnover directly from 120 units with the monthly TRG-D/M questionnaire by the postal method. The source of data is the accounting documentation of enterprises and only exceptionally their estimates.

Legal basis

The surveys are implemented on the basis of the National Statistics Act and the current Annual Programme of Statistical Surveys.

Coverage

RETAIL TRADE

The criteria for the definition of units included in the survey (approximately 3,200 units whose principal activity is classified into retail trade, sale and maintenance of motor vehicles) are the half-yearly turnover of the enterprise and the number of persons in paid employment.

Observation units which report the data on questionnaires are determined on the basis of their previous turnover. The units are sorted by descending turnover, and then we select a sufficient number of units from the begging of the list so as to exceed the defined share (approximately 60%) of turnover in the total turnover of units covered in the selected activity group.

WHOLESALE TRADE

The criteria for the definition of units included in the survey (approximately 3,900 units whose principal activity is classified into wholesale and commission trade) are the half-yearly turnover of the enterprise and the number of persons in paid employment.

Observation units which report the data on questionnaires are determined on the basis of their previous turnover. The units are sorted by descending turnover, and then we select a sufficient number of units from the begging of the list so as to exceed the defined share (approximately 60%) of turnover in the total turnover of units covered in the selected activity group.

Method of data collection

The most important reporting units must send answered questionnaires to the Statistical Office by the 8th day in the current month with the data for the previous month. For other reporting units we get data from the VAT database. Those data are available to the Statistical Office approximately 45 days after the reference period.

Definitions and explanations

Turnover without VAT is the total amount that the enterprise settles with goods sold and services performed in the month. It includes all costs and charges linked to the buyer and excludes the value added tax, financial income, eventual sale of fixed assets and other extra income. The sale for loan is registered in the month of invoicing. Mostly comparable to the above definition is also turnover that is calculated from several items of the VAT return form (DDV-O).

Value indices: current prices are considered, the impact of the change of prices is not eliminated.

Volume indices: with use of deflators made up of consumer price indices the change of prices is eliminated.

Reference period

Reference period is the month (t) to which the published data refer.

Provisional data for retail trade

Provisional data are calculated only on the basis of data collected by the postal method (data collected with questionnaires) and are available approximately in 30 days after the reference period (t+30). Data from the VAT database are not available yet for the mentioned reference period (t+30).

Provisional data on retail trade were published before the reference period 2010 in the First Release as preliminary data.

Provisional data for wholesale and commission trade

Provisional data are calculated on the basis of data collected by the postal method and data from the administrative source. They are available in 60 days after the reference period (t+60).

Internationally comparable data

Data on turnover in retail trade, sale and maintenance of motor vehicles and data on turnover in wholesale and commission trade are internationally comparable at EU level. Eurostat monthly receives indices of turnover on the base year (original data, seasonally adjusted data, trend and working-day adjusted data).

Data processing

In the data processing we combine data from administrative sources and data gathered with the questionnaires. The data on turnover are imputed when we can’t acquire turnover data from observation units. The data on turnover are imputed as to their data on turnover form the previous month or as to average turnover in the group of activity.

Results in retail trade are published as value and volume indices, while results in wholesale trade are published only as value indices. Value and volume indices for the current month are calculated on the average of the base year, in comparison with the same month of the previous year and in comparison with the previous month.

Indices are seasonally adjusted with the Tramo/Seats method based on ARIMA models. Every year we check the models thoroughly, taking into account the currently available period. If the model is changed, we strive to keep changes at a minimum. The tables show unadjusted indices, seasonally adjusted indices (SA) and working-day adjusted (WDA) indices. The SA values are the values from which the seasonality and the calendar effects have been removed, therefore the SA values include the trend-cycle component and the irregular component. Working day adjusted values are values which are corrected for the calendar effects. The calendar effects include the working day effect, the effect of Slovenian holidays, incl. the Easter effect and the leap-year effect. The seasonality and the calendar effects are removed in the case where the effects are statistically significant.

Since 2009 we use the indirect method of seasonal adjustment; only indices calculated on the average of the base year are seasonally adjusted.

Indices of turnover 'on the same month of the previous year', which are working day adjusted (I_MESt,SA), are calculated by the following formula:

                  I_BAZt,WDA

I_LETt,WDA =  -------------- * 100

                  I_BAZt-12,WDA

Indices of turnover 'on the previous month', which are seasonally adjusted (I_MESt,SA), are calculated by the following formula:

                  I_BAZt,SA

I_MESt,SA =  -------------- *100

                  I_BAZt-1,SA

Whereby:

t

month

t-1

previous month

t-12             

the same month of the previous year

I_LETt,WDA    

index of turnover 'on the same month of the previous year', data are working day adjusted

I_MESt,SA       

index of turnover 'on the previous month, data are seasonally adjusted

I_BAZt, WDA   

index of turnover 'average 2005 =100', data are working day adjusted

I_BAZt, SA      

index of turnover 'average 2005 =100', data are seasonally adjusted

Publishing according to the Standard Classification of Activities

On 1 January 2008 the new classification of activities of business entities NACE Rev. 2, which replaced NACE Rev 1.1, came into force in all EU Member States. In the Republic of Slovenia the national version of the standard classification, called SKD 2008, which includes the entire European classification of activities but also adds some national subclasses, came into force on the mentioned date. The new classification brings many changes, which are the result of structural changes in the economy in recent years. Most of the changes thus involve market services and manufacturing. A very important change is the new structure of the classification, since there is no longer the level of subsection (2-digit code).

More general information about the introduction of the new classification is available on a special website Revision of the Classification of Activities NACE Rev.2 / SKD 2008 of the Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia.

Statistical data according to NACE Rev. 2 for trade started to be published in 2009 for the reference periods in 2009. Due to the change in the classification of activities, it was necessary to recalculate the time series (backcasting) of statistical data by the new classification (from 2000 to 2008 inclusive). Backcasting was implemented at macro level, which means that results in the new time series were recalculated directly from old results by using correspondence and conversion tables. A correspondence table links activities at the 5-digit level of the old and new classifications, while a conversion table shows shares of conversion of individual activities by turnover. Conversion tables are used in the case one class from the old classification is split into several classes in the new classification and vice versa. Conversion tables were prepared for individual years from 2000 to 2008, depending on the annual situation in the Statistical Business Register.

The implementation of the new NACE Rev. 2 did not have a substantial impact as regards the fields of retail and wholesale trade. An important difference in monitoring turnover in retail trade according to NACE Rev. 2 is the inclusion of retail sale of fuels in the retail trade aggregate. According to NACE Rev. 1 retail sale of fuels was namely included in the motor trade aggregate.

Data for the last 10 months are provisional. With each release the data for the last 10 months can be corrected and supplemented with new data.

Data revision is planned. Due to the needs of users for timely information, data are published that meet the criteria of the quality of official statistical data, but do not meet the quality that can be met with additional statistical procedures. Regular revisions include a more complete data source and change of data due to seasonal adjustment and elimination of calendar effects. Data are revised when newer and more quality data respectively can significantly contribute to the quality of data-based decision-making and when due to publication deadlines determined by the European legislation less accurate data are published on the basis of incomplete coverage.