Statistics Estonia will start conducting business and consumer surveys

Kaire Raasik, Head of the Economic and Environmental Statistics Department at Statistics Estonia, said that these monthly surveys provide fast and regular assessments of the economic situation and expected developments and also collect information about economic and consumer confidence.

“These surveys give an overview of current economic tendencies – often before other official statistics indicators are published. The surveys also allow easy comparisons of the economic situation across European Union countries,” explained Raasik.

The business and consumer surveys used to be carried out by the Estonian Institute of Economic Research. Starting from 1 May, the surveys are conducted by Statistics Estonia, taking over the responsibility for the publication of the results and for their transmission to the European Commission. Additionally, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications will be publishing quarterly overviews starting from autumn this year.

Mario Lambing, Chief Analyst in the Department of Strategy at the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications, emphasised the importance of the surveys as a source of information about short-term economic developments. He added that the surveys will complement already available statistics by adding new perspectives. “For example, the surveys allow us to assess short-term expectations for price and sales trends, and to identify the factors limiting business, such as changes in demand or employment,” he said.

There are five surveys in total

The business surveys collect information from enterprises in the construction, industry, trade and services sectors; the questions concern developments in business activities and the underlying factors. The consumer surveys study households’ financial situation, general economic situation, savings, and intentions concerning major purchases.

For the first three months, the consumer survey will be conducted online as well as by phone, to see whether the survey results are affected by the survey mode. Raasik explained that, as a producer of official statistics, Statistics Estonia can use existing state registers in the sampling process. “Similarly to other social and enterprise surveys conducted by Statistics Estonia, we use random sampling in the business and consumer surveys, so that the results would most accurately reflect the population being studied,” she added.

The business and consumer surveys are carried out at the beginning of each month. The survey period begins on the first working day of the month and lasts until the 14th day of the month. Statistics Estonia will begin the surveys on 4 May, with the first results to be published on 26 May. The survey methodology will be published on Statistics Estonia’s website at the same time with the May release. Access to anonymised datasets of the business and consumer surveys can be requested for scientific purposes.

The business and consumer surveys are conducted in all European Union countries using harmonised questionnaires, which allows monitoring economic developments at the Member State, EU and euro-area level. In Estonia, the business and consumer surveys are commissioned by the Ministry of economic Affairs and Communications.

For further information:

Annaliisa Köss
Media Relations Partner
Marketing and Dissemination Department
Statistics Estonia
Tel +372 5696 6484

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