Input-Output Structure of the Canadian Economy in Current Prices
Detailed information for 2004
Status:
Active
Frequency:
Annual
Record number:
1401
The Input-Output tables represent the most detailed accounting of the Canadian economy available and thus serve as benchmarks to the Canadian System of National Accounts.
Data release - November 8, 2007 (preliminary); November 6, 2008 (final)
Description
The Input-Output tables are the most comprehensive and detailed statistics on transactions involving production activity and intermediate as well as final consumption of goods and services in the economy.
The input-output accounts of Canada and its provinces and territories are presented in three main data tables (matrices) for each jurisdiction. These are the output table, input table, and the final demand table. In addition, provinces' and territories' tables are linked together through an interprovincial flows table that shows each jurisdiction's exports to, and imports from, other provinces and territories as well as abroad.
Input-Output tables cover all economic activities conducted in the market economies of each province and territory, encompassing persons, businesses, government and non-government (non-profit) organizations, and entities outside its jurisdiction that give rise to imports or exports (interprovincially or internationally.)
The Input-Output tables represent the most detailed accounting of the Canadian economy available and thus serve as benchmarks to the Canadian System of National Accounts.
National tables are produced on an annual basis (starting with the 1961 reference year) and completed in June each year with a 30 month lag from the reference year. Provincial tables are produced annually (starting with the 1997 reference year) and released together with the national tables in November of each year with a 34 month lag from the reference year.
Statistical activity
The Canadian System of National Accounts (CSNA) provides a conceptually integrated statistical framework for studying the state and behavior of the Canadian economy. The accounts are centered on the measurement of activities associated with the production of goods and services, the sales of goods and services in final markets, the supporting financial transactions, and the resulting wealth positions.
To produce financial statistics, the CSNA measures the economic dimensions of the public sector of Canada, including the financial inter-relationships among the thousands of entities that make up the three levels of government in Canada (federal, provincial and territorial, and local). In order to carry out this program, the CSNA maintains a universe of all public sector entities including their complex inter-relationships.
The Input-Output tables are calculated at the national and provincial and territorial level, but on an annual basis only. They are available about two and half years after the end of the reference year; this is because of the delay in obtaining the needed source data and by the complex nature of producing such a detailed account. As a means of providing more up-to-date information to users for current analysis, two industry-based programs - one producing the country's current monthly GDP figures (record no. 1301), the other annual provincial-territorial estimates (record no. 1303) have been set up. These two programs, which can be viewed as extensions of the I-O tables, use a set of indicators to project the GDP by industry benchmarks from the I-O tables.
Reference period: Calendar year
Subjects
- Economic accounts
- Input-output accounts
Data sources and methodology
Target population
The Canadian economy.
Instrument design
This methodology does not apply.
Sampling
This methodology does not apply.
Data sources
Data are extracted from administrative files and derived from other Statistics Canada surveys and/or other sources.
To compile the input output accounts, Input-Output Division obtains source data from all relevant surveys as well as administrative sources such as tax records, professional and industry organizations, and non-government institutions every year for each province and territory.
Error detection
This methodology type does not apply to this statistical program.
Imputation
This methodology does not apply.
Estimation
In the process of preparing statistical estimates, data from various sources are confronted, analysed by subject-matter experts, and used to compile estimates that are consistent with all other estimates in the Canadian System of National Accounts and provide a valid and coherent statistical picture of the subject matter. Consistency is a key feature of the statistics produced by the Accounts. A good example of how consistency is achieved through data integration is a process known as "commodity balancing". Because, logically, the supply of a good or service from all possible sources must equal its demand or disposition in a given jurisdiction, every good and service in the economy is scrutinized to make sure it obeys this rule before it is used for input-output compilation. When supply does not add up to demand or disposition (demand plus inventory), as is often the case, (indeed, statistics are often prepared according to different concepts; they are also evaluated on a different basis or cover slightly different periods, i.e. fiscal versus calendar year), each data source is questioned, errors and omissions are corrected, and sometimes the data are re-estimated in light of more reliable information to achieve complete balance between supply and disposition.
The tables are set up on a year-by-year basis, rather than in time series. The tables identify transactions in three ways:
1. they show data by commodity, a neutral terminology for a group of goods or services or type of transactions (e.g. "wages" or "indirect taxes").
2. they show data by industry: a group of producing units such as establishments or enterprises, that are engaged in market transactions in goods or services. The term "industry" does not imply that they are industrial businesses. The terminology covers all entities that conduct activities involving market transactions. The concept includes such groups as Municipal Governments, non-profit institutions such as Sports and Recreation Clubs, and professions such as Offices of Dentists.
3. they show data by categories of final demand, a convenient breakdown that identifies transactions that constitute final sales of goods and services.
Quality evaluation
Prior to publication, results are analyzed for compatibility and a review of general economic conditions and historical trends is conducted.
Disclosure control
Statistics Canada is prohibited by law from releasing any data which would divulge information obtained under the Statistics Act that relates to any identifiable person, business or organization without the prior knowledge or the consent in writing of that person, business or organization. Various confidentiality rules are applied to all data that are released or published to prevent the publication or disclosure of any information deemed confidential. If necessary, data are suppressed to prevent direct or residual disclosure of identifiable data.
Confidentiality test are made at the cell level. Small numbers can disappear because of rounding and because the numbers are made available in millions of dollars.
Revisions and seasonal adjustment
As preliminary data for a year become available, the previous year's preliminary data are revised to become final.
Data accuracy
In general, weaknesses in source data arise mainly from the following: a) incomplete details on particular commodities; b) undercoverage; c) inappropriate concepts and definitions. These are briefly discussed below:
a) Incomplete details
The most obvious weakness arises from the use of source data where adequate commodity details are not available. These are, therefore, estimated. In the commodity balancing process the estimates are reviewed and adjustment made when necessary.
b) Undercoverage
This weakness is normally corrected by inflating reported data by a factor that allows the data to represent the universe concerned. For example, in the case of hospitals, the number of beds in all hospitals is used to inflate reported annual data which relate to the reported number of beds in hospitals included in the survey.
c) Concepts and definitions not Suitable for the SNA
For administrative records, the data are quite varied in coverage, details, definitions and concepts and often these factors do not coincide with those required for the input-Output Accounts. They must be thoroughly examined and adjusted for consistency and coverage using carefully designed estimating procedures.
The ranking of quality for the current price estimates have, in general been determined as follows:
A rank of A is assigned to estimates (aggregates or commodity detail), that are based completely on censuses, surveys or administrative records with minimum adjustments for coverage, valuation and classification.
A rank of B refers to estimates that are developed using the same sources as listed in (a). The difference is that only the aggregate value of some important inputs and outputs is available and the commodity detail required for the Input-Output framework needs to be estimated.
A rank of C refers to estimates for which no direct information is available even for control totals or to estimates which are based on occasional surveys extrapolated to the current period or interpolated between two data points.
The quality ratings of the estimates are published in Statistics Canada catalogue 15-201, "The Input-Output Structure of the Canadian Economy".
Documentation
- Conversion to North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) - Historical Continuity of the CSNA Industry Statistics
- Date modified: