DISTRIBUTIVE TRADE STATISTICS IN LESOTHO MAY 2008 ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA Prepared by TšepisoThabane

Outline  Introduction  Coverage of units  Data items and level of details  Data collection  Compilation methods  Periodicity  Dissemination Strategy  Policy relevance  Challenges

Introduction  Statistics Act of 2001 provides a legal framework for distributive trade statistics in Lesotho.  Bureau of Statistics is mandated to collect, analyze and disseminate distributive trade statistics.  A sample of units in distributive trade activities is drawn from a business register which is continuously updated.

Coverage of units  Wholesale & Retail Trade Establishments engaged in motor trade and wholesale & retail trade Large & medium scale with employment >= 10 persons

Data items  Data items include –Employment data –Wages and salaries –Turnover (sales)

Data collection Data collected from respective enterprises. Questionnaires are distributed during the 1 st week following the last day of the quarter. Collection of questionnaires is normally done from the third week. Some questionnaires are sent via .

Compilation methods Distributive trade indices are not yet compiled

Periodicity Distributive trade survey is currently conducted on a quarterly basis. Contribution of wholesale and retail trade to GDP was 8.4 percent in 2005 and 8.6 percent in 2006.

Dissemination Distributive Trade Statistics reports are not yet published due to a lot of data gaps. (other statistical reports available on website: library and Bureau of Statistics Newsletter)

Challenges  Data collection Inadequate resources such as transport Response rate is very poor Frequent closure of businesses Substitution problem Inclusion of small-scale businesses (informal sector)

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