Press Release No. 03/31

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) today launched an enhanced Dissemination Standards Bulletin Board (DSBB) with new, user-friendly features that will provide the public with easier access to information on statistical data disseminated by IMF member countries under the data standards initiative.

The DSBB (http://dsbb.imf.org) provides the public with on-line information on the IMF's Special Data Dissemination Standard (SDDS)¹, and, through links to national websites, to the data disseminated under the SDDS. The DSBB also provides information on the IMF's General Data Dissemination System (GDDS)² and, where available, links to the national statistical websites of the participants. Access is also provided to the Data Quality Reference Site (DQRS)³ through the DSBB.

New features of the enhanced DSBB include:

• Revised look of the SDDS and GDDS sites



• The homepages have been simplified by adding clearly categorized topics.


• New tools for searching, querying, and analyzing information on countries data dissemination practices (metadata).
  • Users can search for information on any combination of countries, data categories (real sector, fiscal sector, etc.), and metadata elements (data coverage, periodicity, timeliness, etc.). This feature is available in both the SDDS and the GDDS.
  
  
  
  • Users can search SDDS metadata at a greater level of detail by key statistical concepts (index base year, institutional coverage, etc.) embedded within many of the metadata elements. The output of these searches is presented in tabular form to permit comparative analysis across countries or key concepts.
  
  
  
  • Users can see advance release calendar (ARC) information for any combination of SDDS countries and data categories on a quarter-ahead basis. The ARC-related notes (coverage, periodicity, timeliness, etc.) are also accessible along with the data category.
  
  
  
  • Users can obtain in the "Summary of Observance" page comparative information for any combination of countries and data categories regarding how the SDDS specifications on data coverage, periodicity, and timeliness are being met.
  
  
• Increased access to country data
  • Users will have more ready access to data on National Summary Data Pages (NSDPs⁴) through an increased number of hyperlinks to these sites. For example, output of search and query operations at the key-concept level will have direct links to NSDPs.

The IMF, under its data standards initiative, seeks to enhance the availability of timely and comprehensive statistics and, thereby, contribute to the pursuit of sound macroeconomic policies and to the improved functioning of financial markets. Providing information on countries' data dissemination practices through the DSBB is part of these ongoing efforts. The DSBB will continue to be upgraded from time to time.

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¹ The SDDS was established in 1996 to guide countries that have, or that might seek, access to international capital markets in the dissemination of economic and financial data to the public. The SDDS site provides information about economic and financial data disseminated by member countries that subscribe to the SDDS. To date, there are 52 subscribers to the SDDS.
² The GDDS was established in 1997 to guide countries in the provision to the public of comprehensive, timely, accessible, and reliable economic, financial, and socio-demographic data. The GDDS site provides information on data produced and disseminated by member countries that participate in the GDDS together with their plans to improve their statistical systems. To date, there are 57 participants in the GDDS.
³ The DQRS, which was created to foster a common understanding of data quality, provides access to contributions in the field and includes a selection of articles and other sources related to data quality issues.
⁴ The NSDP is intended to provide DSBB users with ready access to a single source for the actual data of SDDS subscribers described on the DSBB. To this end, the NSDP shows all data categories and components prescribed under the SDDS.