IMF--Dissemination Standards Bulletin Board--Austria:Price index: Producer prices(Base Page)

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Special Data Dissemination Standard
(AS PROVIDED TO THE IMF BY THE RESPECTIVE COUNTRY)

Austria
Price index: Producer prices - Wholesale

Last Posted:	May-22-2008
Last Certified:	Oct-3-2008
Last Updated:	Jan-22-2008

Contact Person(s)		Printer Friendly Page
	Mr. Peter Müller, STATISTIK AUSTRIA, Guglgasse 13, Vienna, Austria A-1110
	Phone :	43 1 711 28 7547
	Fax :	43 1 715 6829
	Email :	peter.mueller@statistik.gv.at
Dissemination Formats

Summary Methodology
Access National Summary Data Page
Cross-country comparisons: access the DSBB metadata query facility

The Data: Coverage, Periodicity, and Timeliness
Coverage characteristics
5.1.1 Statistical presentation

Data are disseminated on the wholesale price index, a Laspeyres index (2005=100).

The wholesale price index is published with a breakdown into 61 groups following the four-, five-, or six-digit classification of the ÖCPA.
Periodicity
4.1.1 Periodicity

Monthly
Timeliness
4.1.2 Timeliness

Within 8 days after the end of the reference month.
Access by the Public
Advance dissemination of
release calendar
5.1.3 Advance release calendar

Precise release dates are disseminated by a comprehensive release calendar on the website of STATISTIK AUSTRIA (http://www.statistik.at).
Simultaneous release to all
interested parties
5.1.4 Simultaneous release

Data are made available to all users simultaneously in STATISTIK AUSTRIA - Pressemitteilungen, which is disseminated by the Austrian Press Agency. The press release is also available by fax or mail or on the website of STATISTIK AUSTRIA (http://www.statistik.at) to all interested parties. The monthly Index der Großhandelspreise (Rapid Report) is available on the same day the press release is disseminated. Data are made available in the monthly bulletin Statistische Nachrichten published by STATISTIK AUSTRIA about five weeks later.
Integrity
Dissemination of terms and
conditions under which
official statistics are
produced, including those
relating to the confidentiality
of individually identifiable
information
0.1.1 Responsibility for collecting, processing, and disseminating statistics
Statistik Austria

All statistics collected and published by STATISTIK AUSTRIA are governed by:

the Federal Statistics Act (Bundesstatistikgesetz 2000, the Federal Law GAZETTEI No. 163/1999 as amended by the Federal Law GAZETTE I No. 71/2003); and
the Data Protection Act (Datenschutzgesetz 2000, the Federal Law GAZETTE I No. 165/1999 as amended by the Federal Law GAZETTE I No. 13/2005).

The Federal Statistics Act includes a general obligation to publish statistics.

Price index: Producer prices

The legal base is the Regulation concerning the compilation of indices of the price development in economy (Federal Law GAZETTE II No. 369/2003). The Regulation includes the obligation to publish the indices.
STATISTIK AUSTRIA disseminates data on the WPI as a service to the public.
0.1.2 Data sharing and coordination among data producing agencies
Statistik Austria

The Austrian system of official statistics is centralized to a very high degree, besides Statistics Austria only a few other Austrian bodies are providers for the production of Official Federal and Community Statistics; the corresponding statistical products are limited to few domains.

According to the Federal Statistics Act, Article 10, those bodies running public registers and possessors of statistics or administrative data are obliged to make these available if this is required by law.

Other (than Statistics Austria) data producing agencies are represented in the Central Statistical Commission (CSC) and in the technical sub-committees of the CSC, respectively. There are formal Co-operation Agreement with the Austrian National Bank, with the statistical services of the Länder and with the Austrian Economic Chamber.
0.1.3 Confidentiality of individual reporters' data
Statistik Austria

Strict provisions on statistical confidentiality are contained in the Federal Statistics Act. The field on protection of personal data is covered by the Data Protection Act.
Article 17(3) of the Federal Statistics Act requires staff working with personal data to treat these in strictest confidence. Article 17(4) says that “the confidentiality of statistics is an official secret”.
All Statistics Austria staff sign confidentiality commitments on appointment.
Beside legal provisions there range of network security measures and other technical controls to minimise the possibility of unauthorised access and there is a specific function within the organisation devoted to statistical confidentiality.
0.1.4 Ensuring statistical reporting
Statistik Austria

According to Article 19 of the Federal Statistics Act Statistics Austria is obliged to "… make statistics and their concepts, definitions and explanations accessible to the public without delay and in an appropriate form,…".
According to Article 30 (1) of the Federal Statistics Act Statistics Austria “shall provide publish all main statistics free of charge on the internet”; according to Article 30 (2) Statistics Austria is obliged to “make detailed statistical results publicly available on suitable electronic databases at an appropriate fee to cover its costs”.
The adherence of Statistics Austria to its obligation to publish all statistics is controlled by the independent Statistical Council.
0.2.1 Staff, facilities, computing resources, and financing
Statistik Austria

Statistics Austria fulfills all orders on basis of legal acts and contracts in all conscience and can manage with the resources available.

Total staff (excluding field staff/interviewers) in full time equivalents: 808 (number of staff: 849);
of which total staff dealing with IT matters (in full time equivalent units): 121.

Total annual budget including administrative expenses (in €): 66 Mio;
of which IT expenditures in %: 40%.

Note: Figures for 31 Dec 2006; estimation.
0.2.2 Ensuring efficient use of resources
Statistik Austria

Budgeting and mid-term planning based on business management principles;
financial accounting and controlling system based on business management principles,
rigorous project planning and controlling, efficient performance and cost control;
rationalisation, reorganization, current process optimization;
improvement of staff qualification, increase of the proportion of high qualified personnel, comprehensive in-house training programme;
flexible way of working (process- and project-orientated); project management
flexibility concering personnel recruitment;
modern efficient IT full equipment;
use of administrative data.
0.3.1 Monitoring user requirements
Statistik Austria

Long tradition of producer-user dialogue (Central Statistical Commission with 17 technical subcommittees covering all subject matter fields, working groups):

According to Article 63 of the Federal Statistics Act Statistics Austria "shall have a Central Statistical Commission, … and technical subcommittees." In the Central Statistical Commission and the technical subcommittees the following institutions (users) are represented: The Federal Chancellery, all federal ministries, the Court of Auditors, provincial government bodies, the Austrian National Bank, the Austrian Economic Chamber, the Presidential Conference of Austrian Chambers of Agriculture, the Federal Chamber of Labour, the Austrian Trade Union Federation, the Federal Conference of Chambers of Freelance Workers, the Congress of Austrian Chambers of Agricultural Labour, the Austrian Association of Municipalities and the Austrian Association of Towns; the required number of practising economic, scientific and cultural experts, and the current Austrian representatives to the European Advisory Committee on Statistical Information in the Economic and Social Spheres (CEIES).
According to Article 64 of the Federal Statistics Act "(1) The Central Statistical Commission shall advise the federal ministries, the Federal Statistics bodies and Statistik Österreich on Federal Statistics questions of general importance. (2) The technical subcommittees shall be responsible for the performance of duties pursuant to (1) hereabove, in the various technical areas."

Current quality feedback-talks with users, external experts and the Quality Assurance Committee of the Statistical Council covering all statistics.

In Article 24 of the Federal Statistics Act it is stated that "statistics shall be subject to permanent control with the aim of improving quality"; Statistics Austria's current feedback-talks on quality serve as an instrument of monitoring users’ needs concerning quality aspects; users/external experts are invited to participate in this meetings, as well as for their comments on quality reports.

Customer/user satisfaction survey based on the IMF questionnaire used in the framework of IMF Data ROSC.
0.4.1 Quality policy
Statistik Austria

Total Quality Management (TQM);
Quality Managment Unit;
TQM principles are laid down in the Austrian Federal Statistics Act and in the mission statement of Statistics Austria.
0.4.2 Quality monitoring
Statistik Austria

·         Article 24 of the Federal Statistics Act: "… 2. statistical methods and procedures shall be applied using internationally accepted statistical principles and standards and shall be published; 3. statistics shall be subject to permanent control with the aim of improving quality; …". The adherence of Statistics Austria to the principles laid down in Article 24 of the Federal Statistics Act is controlled by the independent Statistical Council; concerning the adherence of Statistics Austria to the basic principles of the Austrian Federal Statistics Act the Statistical Council submits annual reports to the Federal Chancellor, federal ministers, the Economic Council and the management of Statistics Austria, an annual activity report of the Statistical Council is also presented to the National Assembly by the Federal Government.

·         Quality reports must be provided for all statistics.

·         Current quality feedback-talks with users, external experts and the Quality Assurance Committee of the Statistical Council.
0.4.3 Quality planning
Statistik Austria

Comprehensive project management methodology to be followed prior to launching new surveys including quality considerations.
Formal user consultation forms part of the planning stage including discussions on quality.
1.1.1 Impartiality of statistics
Statistik Austria

The principles of impartiality and objectivity are laid down in the Federal Statistics Act ; the adherence of Statistics Austria to the principles of impartiality and objectivity is controlled by the independent Statistical Council; concerning the adherence of Statistics Austria to the basic principles of the Federal Statistics Act the Statistical Council submits annual reports to the Federal Chancellor, federal ministers, the Economic Council and the management of Statistics Austria, an annual activity report of the Statistical Council is also presented to the National Assembly by the Federal Government.
All users get access to statistical releases at the same time (Federal Statistics Act, Article 30 (3)).
1.1.2 Selection of sources, methodology, and modes of dissemination
Statistik Austria

According to Article 38 of the Federal Statistics Act the Director General-Statistics of Statistics Austria is in all matters of scientific methodology personally responsible for the performance of his/her duties.
According to Indicator 1.4 of the European Statistics Code of Practice the Director General-Statistics of Statistics Austria has the sole responsibility for deciding on statistical methods, standards and procedures and on the content and timing of statistical releases. The choice of statistical methods, standards and procedures, as well as on the content and timing of statistical press releases are never subject to Ministerial approval.
1.1.3 Commenting on erroneous interpretation and misuse of statistics
Statistik Austria

The policy is laid down in the Federal Statistics Act; see Article 29 (2): "Statistik Österreich shall seek to ensure published statistics are properly used and interpreted."
1.2.1 Disclosure of terms and conditions for statistical collection, processing, and dissemination
Statistik Austria

According to Article 4 (3) of the Federal Statistics Act regulations shall set out:

population or aggregate;
statistical unit;
characteristics of analytical interest;
reference day of the survey;
whether the survey will be conducted as a full survey or, subject to determination of the criteria to be used to establish sample size, as a sample based survey;
continuity;
periodicity;
which data on which populations should be collated and which should be in personal/anonymous format;
form of survey;
respondents' duty to provide information and co-operate;
registrars' and administrative and statistical data keepers' duty to co-operate;
co-operation of local authorities and of district authorities.

The statistical work programme of Statistics Austria providing information on all statistical projects - including dissemination - is available on the internet.
1.3.1 Guidelines for staff behavior
Statistik Austria

Mission statement of Statistics Austria: http://www.statistik.at/web_en/about_us/responsibilities_and_principles/mission_statement/index.html.
All Statistics Austria staff sign confidentiality commitments on appointment.
All Statistics Austria staff sign a statement with regard to the adherence to the fundamental principles of official statistics on appointment.

Price index: Producer prices

- Mission statement of Statistics Austria: http://www.statistik.at/web_en/about_us/responsibilities_and_principles/mission_statement/index.html.

- All Statistics Austria staff sign confidentiality commitments on appointment.

- All Statistics Austria staff sign a statement with regard to the adherence to the fundamental principles of official statistics on appointment.
Identification of internal
government access to data
before release
1.2.2 Internal governmental access to statistics prior to release
Statistik Austria

The Federal Statistics Act states in §30 (3) explicitly the obligation of Statistics Austria to inform without delay the Federal Minister responsible for the subject matter concerned about the results of statistical surveys and to publish them simultaneously. There is only one exception related to instances when Ministers and statisticians are attending joint press conferences – in which case there is a half-day’s embargoed pre-release access.
Identification of ministerial
commentary on the occasion of
statistical releases
1.2.3 Attribution of statistical products
Statistik Austria

According to indicator 1.6 of the European Statistics Code of Practice, statistical releases of Statistics Austria are clearly identified as products of the statistical authority (Statistics Austria). Statistical products of Statistics Austria can be recognized by the copyright, corporate design, logo. There is no ministerial commentary attached to the release of the data.
Provision of information
about revision and advance
notice of major changes in
methodology
4.3.1 Revision schedule

Data are provisional when first released in the monthly press releases.
4.3.2 Identification of preliminary and/or revised data

The wholesale price index for the current month is indicated as provisional and the index for the previous month is announced as final.
1.2.4 Advance notice of major changes in methodology, source data, and statistical techniques.
Statistik Austria

Major changes in methodology, source data and statistical techniques are discussed in advance in the technical sub-committees of the Central Statistical Commission (CSC), information on changes are included in the annual statistical work programmes for the coming years.

Price index: Producer prices

Information to the public about changes in methodology is given at the time the changes are introduced.

The next revision of the Wholesale Price Index will take place in 2010 and the methodology and sources of data will be documented on the website of STATISTIK AUSTRIA and in the monthly "Rapid Report".
Quality
Dissemination of
documentation on methodology
and sources used in preparing
statistics
5.2.1 Dissemination of documentation on concepts, scope, classifications, basis of recording, data sources, and statistical techniques

Comprehensive documentation on the methodology used in compiling the wholesale price index was published on the Internet website of STATISTK AUSTRIA

http://www.statistik.at/web_de/wcmsprod/groups/gd/documents/stddok/003970.pdf

Further detailed methodological information can be requested from:

Mr. Müller,
Tel: 43 1 711 28 7547.
Fax: 43 1 715 68 29.
E-mail address: peter.mueller@statistik.gv.at.

(See also summary methodology)
Dissemination of component
detail, reconciliations with
related data, and statistical
frameworks that support
statistical cross-checks
and provide assurance of
reasonableness
4.2.1 Internal consistency

The indices for category of goods, final use of the goods and seasonal goods/ nonseasonal goods are also published in the monthly "Rapid Reports".

Footnotes

Last posted: Date IMF staff last posted an update to these metadata on the DSBB.

Last certified: Date subscriber last officially certified the accuracy of these metadata.

Last updated: Date subscriber last submitted an update of these metadata to the IMF.