Overview of the main changes in IRDTS 2008

Workshop for African countries on the Implementation of International Recommendations for Distributive Trade Statistics

27-30 May 2008, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

UNITED NATIONS STATISTICS DIVISION Trade Statistics Branch

Distributive Trade Statistics Section

ScopeInternational Recommendations for Distributive Trade

Statistics 2008 (IRDTS 2008) Distributive trade statistics (DTS)

IRDTS 2008 defines the scope of DTS as statistics reflecting characteristics and activities of the units belonging to distributive trade sector of an economy

Distributive trade sector The scope of distributive trade sector is defined in terms of ISIC,

Rev.4 All resident entities recognised as statistical units and classifiable in

section G “Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles”

All units irrespective of their size, form of economic and legal organization and ownership

Distributive trade activities carried out by entities not classified in Section G of ISIC, Rev.4 are not covered by distributive trade statistics

International Recommendations on Statistics of Distributive Trades and Services (IRSDTS)

IRSDTS did not have a definition of distributive trade sector Refers to all establishments that are engaged primarily in

wholesale and retail trade, restaurants and hotels and selected services

Statistical units

IRDTS 2008

Contains a more comprehensive and detailed discussion of statistical units for use in the collection of DTS

New sections on: Statistical units of informal sector Mapping of selected entities specific to distributive

trade, such as retail chains, department stores, franchising, market places etc.

Enhanced guidelines on delineation and proper classification of trade units in conjunction with principles of the 1993 SNA, Rev.1 and classification of activities

Data items

IRDTS 2008

List of data items and their definitions - reviewed and updated

Revenue and expenditure items - presented in more details

E-commerce sales - separately identified Value of turnover - presented by product groups

Lists of data items and their coding in IRDTS 2008 and IRIS 2008 - fully harmonized

Performance indicators

IRDTS 2008

Reflects the increased interests in the assessment of the overall performance of distributive trade sector

Identifies a set of indicators for monitoring the profitability, productivity and efficiency of distributive trade sector as a whole or some of its divisions

IRSDTS

Not part of the previous recommendations

Data sources and data compilation methods

IRDTS 2008

Description of data sources and data compilation methods is significantly expanded with discussion on:

Various types of statistical and administrative data sources

Business register and its use as a frame for statistical surveys

Data compilation methods – validation, editing, etc.

An outline of a data collection strategy for different segments of the economy based on an integrated approach is presented

Short-term distributive trade statistics

IRDTS 2008

New chapter providing guidance on some of the most important issues related to short-term DTS

Compilation of indices of distributive trade (more guidance expected in a follow-up manual)

Time-series of distributive trade statistics and the necessity of seasonal adjustments

Reconciliation of short-term with annual data (benchmarking)

Data quality and metadataIRDTS 2008

Increased importance of methods for enhancement of data quality

New chapter containing guidance on the main dimensions of quality that should be taken into account in developing quality assessment frameworks

Limited set of key indicators for measuring quality of distributive trade statistics

Recommendations for development and dissemination of adequate metadata on distributive trade statistics

IRSDTS

Issues of data quality and metadata were not part of the previous recommendations

Data dissemination

IRDTS 2008

Recommendations on DTS data dissemination

Updated Harmonised with similar recommendations

applicable in other areas of economic statistics

Further guidance provided regarding Confidentiality protection Development of a sound revision policy

Harmonization of IRDTS 2008 with the 1993 SNA, Rev.1 (1)

Valuation of trade output Basic prices

Ancillary units An ancillary unit is to be recognized as a

separate establishment when: Separate accounts on production cost are

available, or The unit is in a geographically different location

from the establishments it serves

Research and development Research and development expenditures of

trade units, if any, are to be capitalized

Harmonization of IRDTS 2008 with the 1993 SNA, Rev.1 (2)

Large databases Large databases created by trade units either

on own account or those for sale are to be capitalized

Employee stock options Included in wages and salaries as additional

instruments for compensation of employees Allow harmonization with international

business accounting standards Terminology and classification of non-

financial assets Identical

Thank You