Business Survey
What kind of survey is it?
There are four separate Business Surveys to collect information from enterprises in four sectors: construction, industry, trade, and services. The surveys are used to monitor developments in the business activities of the relevant enterprises, and the underlying factors. The collected data help to assess economic trends at the country, European Union (EU) and euro-area level.
A confidence indicator is produced for each surveyed sector, and the overall Economic Sentiment Indicator is calculated based on these. The survey also provides early and relevant information about changes in employment, enterprises’ expectations and the economic situation in Estonia and within the EU.
The Business Surveys are part of the Joint Harmonised EU Programme of Business and Consumer Surveys. Consumer confidence is measured with the Consumer Survey under the same programme.
Who commissions the survey?
Statistics Estonia conducts the Business Surveys from May 2026. The surveys are carried out in all European Union countries using a common methodology which ensures the comparability of the results. The Business Surveys are part of the statistical programme for the period 2026–2030 approved by the Government of the Republic.
The survey results are used by state agencies, banks, research institutions and enterprises.
Why are the data needed?
The Business Surveys give an overview of current economic tendencies, often before other official statistical indicators are published. The use of an international methodology allows easy comparisons of the economic situation across European Union countries.
The Business Surveys provide early indications of changes in the economic cycle (expansion, peak, contraction). The survey results are essential for state agencies in the planning of fiscal and tax policies. Based on the data, banks assess enterprises' willingness to borrow and make investments. Enterprises use the data to plan their sales, pricing and marketing strategies. The survey results are also used in economic forecasting and analysis and in research.
The business confidence indicators are used in the calculation of the Economic Sentiment Indicator (ESI) published by the European Commission.
How often is the survey conducted?
This is a monthly survey. The results are published as monthly and quarterly data.
How are the participants selected?
The Business Survey respondents are randomly selected from the business register for statistical purposes according to the principal economic activity of enterprises. The business register is the main source of information.
How are the data collected?
The data are collected with an online questionnaire that is available from the first working day of the month and must be completed by the 14th day of the month the latest.
Before the survey begins, all enterprises who are in the sample will receive an email introducing the survey and its purpose and specifying the dates of the survey period.
What happens to the collected data?
Once your answers have been entered, the data are transmitted from the collection application to Statistics Estonia’s data warehouse. The data can be accessed only by few authorised employees of Statistics Estonia (analysts of the specific domain and mathematical statisticians). They use the data to produce official statistical indicators that are published in the statistical database. The data published this way are aggregates and do not allow the direct or indirect identification of specific enterprises.
Where are the results published?
The survey results are published each month in the statistical database. The results are also published in the database of the Directorate-General for Economic and Financial Affairs (DG ECFIN) of the European Commission and in Eurostat’s database.
How can I make sure that it is a survey by Statistics Estonia?
Information about the surveys conducted by Statistics Estonia can be found at https://stat.ee/en/submit-data/about-data-submission/enterprise-surveys. The online questionnaires can be completed via the link sent by email.
If you have any questions, please contact our customer support by phone at +372 625 9300 or by email at klienditugi [at] stat.ee (klienditugi[at]stat[dot]ee).