Meeting of the OECD Short-term Economic Statistics Expert Group 24-25 June 2002

1. Meeting of the OECD Short-term Economic Statistics Expert Group24-25 June 2002 PRESENTATION OF SHORT-TERM ECONOMIC STATISTICS

2. Presentation of Short-term Economic Statistics • Aim of session is to consider options for improvements in the presentation of short-term economic statistics. • Focus is on presentation of data and metadata on the Internet.

3. Presentation of Short-term Economic Statistics “Presentation” in context of this session is very broad. Includes: • range of statistics presented on websites of national agencies and international organisations; • data formats used for data presentation: time series length; revision practices; raw v. SA or trend-cycle data; presentation of growth rates. • presentation of metadata Discussion on this topic also touches on issues related to the transfer of short-term economic statistics between national agencies and international organisations

4. Presentation of Short-term Economic Statistics - Focus on Internet Reason for focus on Internet: • Seen by many users as the key medium of data dissemination. • Key element of national e-government policies to ensure that statistics reach a wider audience of users. Addresses the “accessibility” quality dimension. • Trend to make greater use of Internet will continue • Ease of accessibility of data on Internet also has risks. Data can be extracted and used inappropriately, out of context - especially when extracted without metadata normally found in paper publications

5. Presentation of Short-term Economic Statistics Following points arise from review of Internet presentation practices (UNECE + OECD work). Enormous variation in: • range of indicators presented - no standards • how series are presented: raw, SA, growth rates; • time series length; • updating practices - some “instant”, some with “delay”; • range of data presented free of charge; • dissemination practices: tables; on-line publications (PDF, HTML); pre-defined time series (Excel, csv); access to on-line databases; • metadata provided

6. Presentation of Short-term Economic Statistics - Use of Internet as a medium for transfer of data to international organisations • OECD has requirement for national data as published in countries + harmonised data for international comparisons. • In some cases these are the same, in others not so - some harmonisation required by I/Os to improve comparability. • Different practices by different I/Os, e.g. in seasonal adjustment practices

7. Presentation of Short-term Economic Statistics - Use of Internet as a medium for transfer of data to international organisations Two main approaches to improve data transfer in future: • Use of common data files by different I/Os - current project between OECD, Eurostat and IMF - slow progress. • Data sharing model through common access to on-line databases. Preferred approach at CES, OECD HLG. • make maximum use of existing on-line databases; • develop recommendations and guidelines for on-line databases to ensure they can be used effectively (SDMX?); • development of standard codification schemes similar to that currently used in national accounts questionnaire

8. Presentation of Short-term Economic Statistics - Possible areas for future work for discussion by STESEG • range of indicators to be presented - target list; • formulation of a set of presentation standards covering issues such as: time series length; raw/SA/trend-cycle; growth rates; • possibility of national agencies providing set of “standard” tables on their websites - expanded SDDS approach; • recommendations on practices for updating ST indicators on website; • standards of facilities for efficient transfer of data and metadata (e.g. possibility to use automated data extraction facilities); • standards for metadata presentation updating practices - hard-linking to data.

9. Presentation of Short-term Economic Statistics - Possible areas for future work for discussion by STESEG What should be done by: • STESEG with other international organisations (in particular, Eurostat) • SDMX • METIS