Changes in inventories in the Norwegian National Accounts. Accounting data as a source for changes in inventories

Abstract

Changes in inventories in the Norwegian National Accounts (NNA) are estimated as a residual in the supply and use tables. Hence, the changes are a mix of actual changes in inventories and statistical errors, which makes the figure hard to interpret. In the NNA, changes in inventories have been positive every year since 1970. Changes in inventories and statistical errors as a proportion of gross domestic product (GDP) have been large and increasing since 2004. This implies that the figures of the changes should be examined and, preferably, improved. This report aims to examine these changes in inventories and Statistical errors, including considering whether we can use accounting data retrieved from corporations as a source to changes in inventories.