The Federal Statistical Office (StBA) continuously collects and analyzes data on the German economy and other areas of society. The StBA prepares the data and makes it available. Among other things, these statistics serve as a basis for action by policymakers.

For this reason, there is an obligation for companies to provide information. Not all companies are surveyed. Depending on the industry, a different number of companies are selected at random. If your company receives a corresponding request from the StBA, you must provide the data requested.

This applies to manufacturing companies and companies

• of mining and quarrying,
• of the manufacturing industry,
• energy supply,
• water supply, sewage and waste disposal,
• the elimination of environmental pollution
• as well as for the manufacturing establishments of companies in other sectors of the economy, in each case excluding construction companies.

Depending on the economic sector, different information is required. In addition, the StBA requests certain data at different intervals, such as monthly, annually or at intervals of several years. Among other things, you may have to provide the following data on your business or company:

• active persons
• wage and salary totals
• total production
• repair, assembly and contract processing work
• incoming orders
• Orders on hand
• material and merchandise inventories

For companies whose owner is a start-up entrepreneur, there is no obligation to provide information in the calendar year in which the business is opened. In the two following calendar years, there is no obligation to provide information as long as the company generates less than EUR 800,000 per fiscal year.