Recent developments for quarterly service turnover indices

The European Statistical System has put more attention on activities to improve quality, frequency and coverage of short term indicators for the service sector. The aim is to implement a set of indicators similar to those already available for the manufacturing sector. Within this framework, Istat has put forth an intensive effort to complete the set of indices required by European regulations, both for Service Production Prices and for quarterly Turnover Indices. Concerning Turnover, in 2011 a new survey was launched to obtain indices for Wholesale and retail trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycle (NACE G45), Land transport and transport via pipelines (NACE H49), Warehousing and support activities for transportation (NACE H52), Accommodation (NACE I55) and Food and beverage service activities (NACE I56). The aim of this paper is to describe the operational and methodological choices carried out for the release of the indices according to the Generic Statistical Business Process Model (GSBPM), together with the economic findings associated with the new indicators.