From the 1st April 2011, the responsibility for the collection of data and production of official labour market and economic statistics transferred from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA), an agency of the Department of Finance and Personnel (DFP) . This transfer mirrored the position in Great Britain where most business surveys and labour market data collection and statistical production have been transferred from the departments with policy responsibilities to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). However, it is important to note that there are no planned changes to the production of economic and labour market statistical publications and outputs as a result of the transfer.
Northern Ireland Index of Services (IOS)
Background
The experimental Index of Services (IOS) was first published in Northern Ireland on 18 May 2005. Following assessment by the UK Statistics Authority the Index of Services was designated as a National Statistics on 5 August 2011. It is published quarterly and is designed to provide a general measure of changes in the output of the private sector service industries in Northern Ireland. (This is defined as Standard Industrial Classification 2007 (SIC07) sections G to S. In 2008 these private sector service industries accounted for 64% of regional Gross Value Added (GVA).
The quarterly NI IOS Statistics Bulletin presents the latest seasonally adjusted estimates from the NI Index of Services including comparison with published figures for the UK as a whole.
The IOS sample was refreshed for Q2 2011 and was drawn on a SIC07 basis. It is now approximately 20% larger with approximately 1,900 companies. Due, in part, to the significant number of companies which fall into the census element, approximately 50% of businesses in the new sample were also in the old sample. As a statutory survey the response rate is now over 80%. The sample of service industries is selected directly from the Inter Departmental Business Register (IDBR), by stratifying companies by industry and company size. The sample consists of a census of dominant companies and a Neyman stratified random sample of the remaining companies. The census element consists of all companies employing 100 or more employees and those employing 0 to 99 employees and having a turnover of £20 million or more. It is desirable to include these low employment high turnover companies in the sample in order to provide a more comprehensive picture of the overall economy.
It is based on up-to-date information about the output and sales of the services industry. The index is published in January, April, July and October each year and refers to the quarter ending some 15 weeks earlier.
All series, unless otherwise quoted, are measured at constant market price (2009 = 100). Deflators adjust the value series to take out the effect of price change to give the volume series. Details on the changes to the ONS deflators methodology can be found at the following link http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/guide-method/method-quality/specific/economy/national-accounts/articles/deflation-improvements-in-the-uk-national-accounts.pdf
Full background notes are contained in the statistics bulletin below.
We would also welcome any views you have in relation to the IOS at statistics@dfpni.gov.uk
Publication
The latest Northern Ireland Index of Services (IOS) report is available below:
Adobe Acrobat. Northern Ireland. IOS April 2013 (161KB)
Statistical Press Release
The latest statistical press release is available below:
Adobe Acrobat IOS Statistical Press Release Q4 2012 - April 2013 (110KB)
IOS Series 2009=100
The latest IOS series is available below:
MS Excel IOS Series 2009=100 Q4 2012 (23KB)
Archive data for Index of Services (IOS) can be accessed by clicking on the link below
Archive data for Index of Services (IOS)
Summary of usage of the Northern Ireland Index of Services
A summary of usage of the Northern Ireland Index of Services is available below:
Adobe Acrobat NI IOS usage (23KB)
Index of Services Feedback
We would greatly appreciate it if you could please complete the short online feedback form relating to the usefulness and credibility of the experimental Index of Services statistic available at the link below. Thank you for your co-operation.
