1. Managing Supply-Use Benchmarking
Presentation to the 2004 OECD NA Experts Meeting

2. Background and purpose
Decision to adopt SU benchmarking in 1995 implemented in 1998
The following 6 years has highlighted the importance of systems and processes
Need to review implementation and learn from others

3. Key points of ABS approach
In "normal" year estimate 3 SU years in current and constant prices
Maintain time series of SU tables from 1995
need for historical revisions periodically
3 compilation sections (approx 45 staff) including a separate SU section (formerly I-O)
Different systems used across the sections
FAME, Excel, Mainframe, other spreadsheets

4. Challenges (I) Culture and structure
incorporating a supply-use mentality
incorporating a time series mentality
Data management
multiple versions of individual series
complexity of revisions policy internally and for source data areas
Editing tools
analysing structure and time series

5. Challenges (II) Time series of SU tables how long is reasonable?
dealing with large changes such as industry classification change
Supply and use skills
is there a shortage?
how can skills be developed?

6. ABS systems re-development (I)
Problems in current systems
lack of flexibility for time series compilation of SU tables
no direct link between SU and I-O compilation
no direct link between current and constant price estimation

7. ABS systems re-development (II)
Aims from the redevelopment
concurrent current and constant price table balancing
concurrent time series balancing
metadata driven
high quality data management
flexible "front end" to allow for updating of methods and "data scavenging"

8. Background to QSU tables
The QSU system is part of a broad strategy to improve the consistency of the national accounts by identifying the source of discrepancies between the production, income and expenditure based estimates of GDP.
The QSU model has been operational for about two years. Tables are available from September quarter 2001 to June quarter 2004.
The operational efficiency of the QSU model has been greatly increased this year by linking it to the source data in the QNA.

9. What the QSU model does
Applies the relationships in the latest annual SU tables to the data in the QNA
Expands the data in the QNA to roughly the level of detail in the annual SU tables
Identifies discrepancies between the supply and use of products

10. Supply Use Tables in the Quarterly
National Accounts

12. Future developments in QSU tables
Further work will be done to investigate discrepancies between the supply and use of complex product groups.
Work will also proceed on the development of experimental QSU tables in current prices .
A more detailed information paper on the compilation and use of the quarterly supply and use tables will be released at a later date.

13. Conclusion SU benchmarking very positive development
Compilation is more complex and time consuming
Need to consider alternative approaches

14. Issues for discussion
To what extent do other countries face similar challenges in SU table compilation?
Are there commonalities in method that can be built upon?
Would an EDG allowing a forum for exchange of ideas on SU benchmarking, compilation systems and data management issues be a useful idea?