We propose and illustrate simple methods based on constrained weighted least squares regression to restore the additivity of a system of time series, with the objective of balancing a table of seasonally adjusted series benchmarked to the corresponding annual totals from the raw series. The...

The paper starts with a description of the System of statistics (section 1), a necessary first step in a description of benchmarking. Issues related to benchmarking are dealt with in sections 2: Quality assurance; 3: Revision policy; and 4: Dissemination policy. These aspects are all described...

Discrete values of flow variables can be regarded as the integrals of unobserved flow functions. The estimated flows are defined as the product of two functions. One is predetermined and selected to eliminate or reduce trend in mean and variance. The other is approximately stationary, selected...

The paper proposes a new Hierarchical Bayes method to derive high-frequency series consistent with less-frequency data, using indicators. The method allows for the prior setting of covariates between the high-frequency values and it rewards with a greater prior probability the smoothness of the...

The paper discusses the main issues arising in the construction of quarterly national accounts estimates, adjusted for seasonality and calendar effects, obtained by disaggregating the original annual actual measurements using related monthly indicators. It proposes and implements an approach...

Most of the data obtained by statistical agencies have to be adjusted, corrected or somehow processed by statisticians in order to arrive at useful, consistent and publishable values. For example, the government agencies that collect and publish Quarterly National Accounts time series must...

Benchmarking of subannual to annual series in official statistics is usually carried out using a macrolevel procedure. This ensures that subannual estimates are consistent with annual totals, with some appropriate methods to ensure continuity of the series between years. Another approach would...

The only data on the unemployment rate currently published by Instituto Nacional de Estatística are the quarterly figures from Inquérito ao Emprego. In periods when the conditions in the labour market are more volatile, this three-month gap in which there is no information about the changes in...

The importance of availability of comparable real income aggregates and their components to applied economic research is highlighted by the popularity of the Penn World Tables. Any methodology designed to achieve such a task requires the combination of data from several sources. The first is...