Wholesale and retail trade of motor vehicles and motorcycles

Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia (SORS)

Domestic Trade, Catering and Tourism Statistics Division

Natasa Cvjeticanin

Statistician analyst in Domestic trade unit

Milana Rakica 5, Belgrade

+381 11 2412 922 ext. 330

+381 11 2411 922

Data on turnover realized in CA division 45 of the Classification of Activities ("Official Gazette of RS", No. 54/2010) provide an estimate of the total turnover as well monitoring of dynamics turnover.

Еstimates are used for monitoring the volume and dynamics of goods and services flow, and for computing the turnover indices in service activities, simultaneously being a part of the results for total distributive trade (CA divisions 45, 46 and 47). On the basis of the gained indicators, analysed are: effects of trade policy measures; changes in the structure of individual consumption of goods and services; volume and structure of turnover by trade activity branches. 

Classification of Activities 2010 (“Official Gazette of RS”, no. 54/10) completely harmonized with Statistical classification of activities of EU – NACE Rev.2.

http://www.stat.gov.rs/en-US/o-nama/dokumenti

Nomenclature of statistical territorial units (NSTU).

Enterprises that are registered in Wholesale and retail trade of motor vehicles and motorcycles (division 45 of NACE Rev 2.) and deliberately selected enterprises whose principal activity is not in division 45, but they perform significant turnover in that activity.

Unincorporated enterprises registered in wholesale and retail trade of motor vehicles and motorcycles (CA division 45), which are in the VAT system (VAT payers).

Turnover refers to invoiced value of sales realized by the reporting unit (enterprise) from sale of products, goods and services in the observed period (quarter).

Turnover of goods in wholesale trade represents the value of goods supplied by business entities performing wholesale trade to business entities of domestic trade, to other business entities for further processing and large consumers for own consumption.

Turnover of goods in retail trade represents the value of goods supplied by business entities performing wholesale trade to business entities of domestic trade, to other business entities for further processing and large consumers for own consumption.

Turnover of goods in retail trade implies the value of goods delivered by business entities that perform retail trade to final consumers.

Turnover with VAT included implies the value of realized turnover (income) in the reporting period (quarter) with value added tax (VAT), calculated on the invoiced turnover. Excluded are financial, extraordinary and other operating income (rental income, license income, stocks sale, etc.).

Data on the number of employees and number of stores in wholesale and retail trade of motor vehicles and motorcycles are presented as of the end of the observed period.

Statistical units of observation are enterprises which are registered in the activity of wholesale and retail trade of motor vehicles and motorcycles (division 45 of NACE Rev. 2.).

Administrative data source - Database from VAT reports on turnover of unincorporated enterprises.  

A small number of business entities whose principal activity is not wholesale and retail trade of motor vehicles and motorcycles are included in the assessment, as they realize significant turnover in this area.

The target statistical population was formed on the basis of the data from Statistical Business Register (SBR) of economically active business entities involved in Wholesale and retail trade of motor vehicles and motorcycles that have reported annual financial statements for 2020. The target population includes about 2770 entities.

Regarding unincorporated enterprises, turnover is estimated on the basis of turnover data from Tax Administration base (monthly and quarterly).

All indices are calculated on the level of Serbia  (level NSTU 0).

Note: Starting from 1999 the Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia has not at disposal and may not provide available certain data relative to AP Kosovo and Metohija and therefore these data are not included in the coverage for the Republic of Serbia (total).

Data available since 2005.

Base year is 2015.

Indices (2015=100)

Reference period is a calendar quarter.

Unavailable.

Data confidentiality is stipulated by:

- Official Statistics Law (Official Gazette of RS, number 104/2009), Articles 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, and 49.

(www.stat.gov.rs/media/2322/zakon_o_statisticie.pdf)

- Rulebook on statistical data protection in the Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia

(www.stat.gov.rs/media/2343/rulebook-on-statistical-data-protection-in-sors.doc ) 

- Guidelines on measures of data and information protection in the Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia

(https://www.stat.gov.rs/en-US/o-nama/dokumenti )

Confidential data may be used solely for statistical purposes under the Law on Official Statistics, Article 45.

When processing the confidential data for the users’ needs, protection must be ensured that no individual data can be recognized at any level of aggregated data.

In order to protect the privacy of individual data, only aggregated data are published.

Calendar of releases is available at SORS website:

http://www.stat.gov.rs/en-US/calendar

The data obtained through statistical surveys are released at the internet presentation (http://www.stat.gov.rs/en-US/),

Turnover indices in wholesale and retail trade turnover of motor vehicles and motorcycles (division 45) are published in quarterly periodicity in the statistical release “Domestic trade”.

Data on wholesale and retail trade and repair of motor vehicles (CA division 45) are published in the "Domestic Trade" press release in quarterly periodicity on SORS website: https://www.stat.gov.rs/en-US/oblasti/unutrasnja-trgovina/, both in Serbian and in English language

Data on wholesale and retail trade and repair of motor vehicles (CA division 45) are issued in the publications "Statistical Yearbook of the Republic of Serbia" and "Statistical Calendar of the Republic of Serbia", in regular annual periodicity.

Annual data on wholesale and retail turnover of motor vehicles and motorcycles (division 45) are available in the Statistical Database in scope of the statistical area of Domestic Trade:

http://data.stat.gov.rs/Home/Result/210003?languageCode=en-US

On users’ request, SORS can provide data and information gained by special processing.

http://data.stat.gov.rs/Home/Result/210003?languageCode=en-US&displayMode=metadata

http://www.stat.gov.rs/en-US/o-nama/sistem-upravljanja-kvalitetom

In all stages of statistical data production, the main quality aspects are controlled by the responsible statisticians, sample and information and communication experts.

The main data users are state administration bodies (Government, Ministry of Trade, Tourism and Telecommunications, Ministry of Finance), Eurostat, business entities, economic analysts, scientists, media representatives, students, internal users.

On biennial basis (once in two years), by the means of web interview, implemented is the User Satisfaction Survey. The survey results are available at SORS website: http://www.stat.gov.rs/en-US/o-nama/sistem-upravljanja-kvalitetom.

Data are not seasonally adjusted, which is a deviation from methodological standards.

The main error sources in this survey are both of sampling and non- sampling nature. 

The survey is based on random sample. Sampling frame is constructed using enterprise data from the Statistical Business Register (SBR).

The sample design is such that the estimates for the main domains are of satisfactory precision.

The following non-sampling errors are present:

·  coverage errors due to not completely updated SBR and existing time lag in registering the changes of enterprise units;

·  errors that are a consequence of cut-off sampling, the smallest enterprises are excluded from the sampling frame;

·  measurement and non-response errors that are inevitable, but the instruments of data collection, organization and data entry are such that they are reduced to the lowest possible level.

The bias of the outcome resulting from these errors is low.

Sample errors for turnover estimates are presented by the corresponding variation coefficients estimates for the assessment domain. When calculating the estimates, the sample weight is corrected for non-response.
Estimation of the coefficient of variation of total turnover in wholesale and retail trade of motor vehicles and motorcycles (division 45 of NACE Rev. 2.) at the overall level for the Republic of Serbia is 1.48%.

Non-sampling errors can arise in all stages of survey activities. Non-sampling errors can arise due to: coverage errors, non-response, processing, etc.

The magnitude of the under-coverage error is not computed as it is not considered significant. These errors are mainly caused by not updated Statistical Business Register that is used for constructing the sampling frame.

The smallest enterprises according to turnover value are excluded from the sampling frame.

The over-coverage and non-response errors (or the rate of response) are estimated using the information on response of the unit, which is classified in 9 categories:

• Runs business, submits report;
• Runs business, refuses to submit a report;
• Not found (undeliverable questionnaire);
• Closed, extinguished;
• Blocked, not working;
• Outside the scope of survey (does not perform selected activity);
• Bankruptcy;
• Liquidation;
• Other reasons (e.g. unknown reason of non-response).

In order to minimize non-sampling errors resulting from a human factor, the following measures are carried out: the collected data is entered using an application that enables a "controlled entry". It is not permitted to enter the wrong data at this stage. In the next stage, after entering, further logical control of the data is performed, also via a computer program. In later steps of data processing, the expert person analyses data so as to identify and correct any remaining errors. If necessary, the reporting unit is contacted to correct the data. The final data validation is carried out by aggregates’ analysis.

 Average non-response rate in 2022 at the overall level for the Republic of Serbia is 6.37%.

Average over-coverage rate in 2022 at the overall level for the Republic of Serbia is 11.42%.

Results of the survey are available 60 days after the end of the reporting period (quarter).

There is no time lag between the actual delivery of the data and the target date when it should have been delivered. Deadlines are respected and data are published and delivered on time, according to the pre-announced Release calendar.

The same statistical concepts are applied for the entire territory. Indicators are adjusted to the concepts and definitions applied in the methodologies, according to the Council Regulation No. 1165/98 ANEX D for short-term statistics.

Time series are comparable since 2005.

Collected data are checked and compared with the data from the previous quarter of the same year on micro level.

Comparison with VAT data does not indicate major discrepancies between available data from administrative sources and results of the survey.

Not applicable.

Standardized information on cost and burden is not systematically collected.

A system of coordination of random samples of business entities has been introduced, reducing the burden of small units.

Typical revisions are minimal. If an error occurs, it is corrected as soon as possible.

Significant revisions are used if methodological changes occur. For significant revisions (change of the base year), all series are recalculated.

Data set for legal persons is obtained from the statistical survey and regarding unincorporated enterprises, the data are from administrative sources.

So as to provide data on turnover in wholesale and retail trade of motor vehicles and motorcycles of unincorporated enterprises, administrative data are used – VAT reports from Tax Administration.

Collected data for legal persons is sample based, large and medium-size enterprises are always covered and small and micro ones are selected by random sample. 

Sample selection frame is based on Statistical Business Register data, as of 31st December 2021. It consists of a list of active enterprise data that submitted the annual financial statement for 2020. The turnover and the number of employees are key auxiliary features of enterprises whose values are taken over from final accounts. The sampling frame included about 1980 enterprises.

Stratification of sample frame is done according to:

1.       Economic activity of enterprises – 2 groups of activity: First group contains enterprises with the main activity in Wholesale and retail trade of motor vehicles and motorcycles (division 45 of NACE Rev. 2.); second group contains enterprises which main activity is not Wholesale and retail trade of motor vehicles and motorcycles (division 45 of NACE Rev. 2.) but that make a significant turnover in this activity division. 

2.       Size classes of financial statements – 4 classes: large, medium, small and micro. Size classes are taken from financial statements and they are defined according to the annual turnover, number of employees and assets of the enterprise.

3.       Territorial classes – 3 classes (Serbia – South, Belgrade and Vojvodina),

4.       Amount of annual turnover.

Sample frame was divided on 42 strata and sample of 576 units was allocated. 

Quarterly.

Data from the reporting units are collected by post, web questionnaires, mail and fax. The questionnaire used in the survey is Quarterly survey on wholesale and retail trade of motor vehicles and motorcycles (TRG-16M).

Reporting units, according to the instructions, fill in the form TRG-16M, using the accounting and other necessary documentation.

The deadline for submitting the completed form is 15 days after the end of the reference period (quarter).

The measures used to increase the response rate are reminders sent via email and post.

Control and validation are performed visually during coding, data entry and after the data entry. Data control is in accordance with the defined control criteria (computer and logical control). Data are compared with the data from the previous period of the same year, as well as with the data from the same period last year.

Statistical results for the referent quarter are compared with the results of the previous quarter.

Estimates of total values and their standard errors are calculated by using the Horvitz-Thompson estimates in accordance with the standard procedure for stratified simple random sample. This means that the estimates of total data are calculated by summing the weighted values from the sample. The sampling weight is corrected for unit non-response. 

Not performed.