Today the Council of Latvijas Banka approved the Statistical Programme of Latvijas Banka for 2020 and outlined the plans for work in the field of statistics in the medium term (2021–2023).
The Statistical Programme of Latvijas Banka for 2020 aims to provide information on the key tasks of Latvijas Banka in the field of statistics in 2020, types of statistics collected by Latvijas Banka in pursuit of its tasks, the legal framework, frequency and deadlines for compilation of these statistics, as well as information on the providers and the main users of the respective statistical data. The programme also contains information on the statistics published by Latvijas Banka pursuant to the laws of the Republic of Latvia and to ensure continuity of publication of important time series or more user-friendly access to important information published by the European Central Bank.
In 2020, the key priority in the field of statistics for Latvijas Banka will be conducting the fourth Household Finance and Consumption Survey (HFCS). Latvijas Banka conducted this survey in cooperation with the Central Statistical Bureau of the Republic of Latvia. The survey data are used to study the economic behaviour of households and analyse the impact of macroeconomic and policy decisions on households. For more information on the HFCS, see https://www.bank.lv/en/your-profile/media/press-releases/10961-latvia-will-participate-in-the-household-finance-and-consumption-survey-at-euro-area-level and https://www.bank.lv/statistika/dati-statistika/mfps/apraksti.
The medium-term statistical work programme of Latvijas Banka for 2021–2023 will ensure that respondents, data users and other interested parties are provided with transparent information (the characteristics and result of the work, the planned deadline as well as the impact on the respondent) on Latvijas Banka's operations planned in the field of statistics in the medium term.
According to Council Regulation (EC) No 2533/98 of 23 November 1998 concerning the collection of statistical information by the European Central Bank, the European System of Central Banks (ESCB) follows the principle of professional independence in the fulfilment of its tasks. One of the performance indicators for the above principle defined in the document "ESCB Public Commitment on European Statistics" is publication of the statistical work programme.
Latvijas Banka carries out several tasks significant for the functioning of the economy and financial system. One of the most important tasks is the collection, storage and processing of statistical data, as well as the development, gathering, analysis and dissemination of statistical information pursuant to the Law on Latvijas Banka. Latvijas Banka compiles monetary and financial statistics, banknote statistics, payment and payment system statistics, financial stability statistics, balance of payments and international investment position statistics, as well as gets actively involved in the compilation of statistical data at the European level.
Both documents – the Statistical Programme of Latvijas Banka for 2020 and the medium-term statistical work programme of Latvijas Banka for 2021–2023 – will be published on the website of Latvijas Banka at https://www.bank.lv/en/tasks/tasks-statistics/statistical-programme.