Rules for dissemination of statistical indicators and publications

The framework is based on two rules:

The legal framework governing dissemination is based on a set of international standards and codes adopted by France.

One of the most common international standards is Ouvrir dans un nouvel ongletthe SDDS (Special Data Dissemination Standard), established by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Like all other industrialised nations, France signed up to the standard in 1996 and was one of the first countries to commit to its new version (SDDS Plus) in 2014. In particular, the standard requires countries to provide a description of the conditions under which data are produced and disseminated and to develop a release schedule covering the next four months. The SDDS also sets deadlines for the dissemination of data. The data dissemination schedule and monitoring of compliance with the standard are available on Ouvrir dans un nouvel ongletthe IMF website.

Among other principles, the European Statistics Code of Practice establishes professional independence, impartiality and objectivity as key principles (Principle 1 and Principle 6).

Lastly, European rules and gentlemen’s agreements, relating in particular to short-term statistics, set the dates for the compulsory transmission of most data to Eurostat for the purposes of the publication of the corresponding European summary.

Publication on the website

The date and time of release of the main economic indicators and economic outlook notes and reports are announced in the four-month schedule disseminated and published online at the end of each month (on the 25th). The dates for the first month are firm, while the dates of the other three months are subject to change. Changes are reported in the programme circulated the following month.

The date and time of release of non-major indicators and publications (excluding outlook publications) are announced in the monthly calendar updated each Friday.

To ensure equal access to information for all audiences, short-term indicators and publications are disseminated on our website at the exact time of the embargo lifting. This measure serves to ensure that information is made available at the same time to all users.

Privileged (embargoed) access

In some cases, however, news agencies and the media have access to information under embargo, the aim being to give them time to prepare their reports and ensure high-quality news feeds. Ministerial offices responsible for supervising INSEE also receive information under embargo. In the case of statistical indicators, beneficiaries of embargoed access comply with the dissemination rules applicable to statistical indicators under embargo.

If the embargo is breached, the embargo is lifted promptly to restore equal access to information.