Costs and Mark-up Indicators in the Italian National Accounts System

• Activity Number: 312
• Type: Contributed
• Date/Time: Wednesday, August 14, 2002 : 10:30 AM to 12:20 PM
• Sponsor: Section on Government Statistics*
• Author(s): Roberta Piergiovanni*+ and Filippo Moauro
• Affiliation(s): Istat - Istituto Nazionale di Statistica and Istat - Istituto Nazionale di Statistica
• Keywords: National Accounts ; Input-Output Prices ; Costs and Productivity Measures ; Quarterly Accounts ; Intrasector flows

Abstract

In this paper, the Italian method to estimate quarterly costs and mark-up indicators is presented. The methodology is referred to the ESA95 National Accounts System, assuring a coherent framework within the flows underlying the indicators. The ISTAT experience in this measures regards their gross computation, for which intrasector transactions are taken into account. A net computation has never been considered so far, since a system of annual revision for the Input-Output tables has been developed only recently. These revisions have been obtained considering available information on external and commercial trade statistics for the flows with the rest of the world, and the output estimates for the intermediate consumption table. The tables are computed both at current and constant prices, allowing at the same time the possibility to evaluate deflators and unit intermediate costs for both internal and external component. Finally, the quarterly measures are obtained distributing the annual flows applying the Chow-Lin methodology, using price and current indicators derived by the quarterly accounts system.