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Revisions in the statistics on local government finances change data for general government

The figures for the annual statistics on general government for the statistical reference year 2015 changed more than usual in the January 2017 release. This also changes the figures of the statistics on quarterly sector accounts and the statistics on general government revenue and expenditure by quarter for 2015 and 2016. 

The change is caused by a revision in the main source data of the local government sector, the statistics on local government finances (annual statistics) and the quarterly local government finances statistics. The revision improves the quality of data but causes a break in the time series between 2014 and 2015. Data between these years are not necessarily comparable. The change affects the total data of local government (sector S1313) and general government (S13).

Due to the revision, internal service purchases in the local government sector become consolidated. This reduces the sector's service purchases or intermediate consumption and sales proceeds from services or market output in equal measure. This decreases the total expenditure and income of general government correspondingly. The effect is around EUR 1.2 billion per year or around 0.6 per cent relative to gross domestic product.

The revision does not affect net borrowing or the deficit at all. The revision affects consumption expenditure so little that it is still comparable between years. The revision has no notable effect on quarterly distributions.

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Last updated 16.3.2017