Input-output accounts

Input-output accounts describe in detail the production-related and product-related interactions within a national economy including the product flows between the national economy and the rest of the world. They are an integral part of national accounts of the Federal Statistical Office, i. e. their key data are entirely co-ordinated with the results of the domestic product calculation. A characteristic feature of input-output accounts is the fact that they represent the national economy in a matrix in which the breakdown of the production sphere of the national economy is much more detailed than in other areas of national accounts.

The results of input-output accounts are used especially as a basis for structural studies of the economy and for analyses of the direct and indirect impact of changes in demand, prices, wages, etc. on the overall economy and on the various sectors. In addition, they are a basis that can flexibly be used for model and simulation calculations as well as forecasts.

Input-output accounts comprise three input-output tables as well as the supply and use table. Also, there are many additional and analysis tables. Those are tables containing data on persons in employment and employees by homogeneous branches and tables containing data on household final consumption expenditure on the domestic territory by product groups and uses. The analysis tables (input coefficients and Leontiev inverses) are used for analyses.

The input-output table - domestic output and imports at basic prices shows the entire output of products and their uses by product groups and homogeneous branches. Product groups comprise both goods and services. In the first quadrant (also referred to as intermediate consumption matrix), the table shows what products from domestic production and from imports are included as intermediate consumption in the branches of homogeneous production or - in the second quadrant - are intended for the various categories of final uses (consumption, capital formation, exports). Also, in the third quadrant, the input-output table shows the value added (achieved in production) by components, e. g. the compensation of employees. The unit of analysis used in the input-output tables is the unit of homogeneous production.

The supply table indicates the value of the products produced on the domestic territory, in a breakdown by product groups and industries, and imports by product groups. Also, it shows the changeover from the basic prices concept to the purchasers' prices concept. The structure of the use table is quite similar to that of the input-output table. It shows the use of products in a combined breakdown by product groups and industries or final use categories, supplemented by value added. The unit of analysis for the data in the supply and use table is the local kind-of-activity unit - generally the enterprise - possibly with heterogeneous product output.

How are the data of input-output accounts determined?

Input-output accounts are compiled centrally at the Federal Statistical Office. As are the other sub-areas of national accounting, they are a secondary statistics and, consequently, use a multitude of basic statistics. Examples are the cost structure surveys, the production statistics and the service statistics. Major key data are obtained from the production approach and the use approach of calculating the gross domestic product.

When are the results of input-output accounts released?

Due to European requirements, the Federal Statistical Office provides the supply and use table annually, and not later than 36 months after the end of the reference period ("t + 36") to the European statistical office (Eurostat). Although input-output tables must be supplied to Eurostat only every five years, they are compiled and published by the Federal Statistical Office for every reference year. At the national level, the results of input-output accounts are published in Fachserie 18, Reihe 2 of the Federal Statistical Office.

How accurate are the results of input-output accounts?

The statistical basic material available in the Federal Republic of Germany for the compilation of input-output tables involves considerable gaps in some areas which had to be bridged by estimates. Therefore, the very detailed individual results of the input-output tables are not always as reliable as other data of national accounts.

The results of input-output accounts are retrospectively adjusted to any updated status of calculation of domestic product calculation and, in addition, they are revised during comprehensive revisions of national accounting data (only in German), which are performed about every five years.

Further information

Phone: +49 611 75 2270

E-mail: input-output@destatis.de

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