Source Timing and Coverage

When during the month is data collected?

Automated systems collect data from official government sources during the last week of each monthly cycle. Processing and assessment then take place at the start of the following month, before the report is published. This fixed schedule keeps each edition aligned to a consistent, repeatable cutoff.

What is the typical source-reporting lag?

Official trade statistics are generally released one to three months after the period they describe. This delay is a normal feature of official data: governments require time to compile, validate, and publish national figures. The analysis is structured around this reporting rhythm rather than treating it as a shortcoming.

How is coverage maintained when a source is unavailable?

When an official source is unavailable or still lagging, internally developed mathematical models generate preliminary estimates so that coverage remains continuous. These estimates are later replaced by final figures once the official data is released. Coverage is reviewed continuously, and any changes are documented in publicly available monthly Release Notes.

Which gaps are filled by modeling instead?

Modeling fills gaps left by missing or delayed official figures and by periods still awaiting release. Every modeled value carries a data-status label, either Preliminary or Forecast, so that estimates are clearly distinguished from final official statistics. The meaning of these labels is explained in detail on the Data Status Labels page.

What happens when a data source is discontinued?

A permanently discontinued source does not break the published series: model estimates keep coverage continuous, a substitute source is incorporated quickly under the same official-first priority, and the change is documented in the monthly Release Notes.

Unlike a source that is temporarily unavailable or lagging, a discontinued source stops publishing permanently — yet the published series does not break. Internally developed mathematical models keep coverage continuous, generating estimates that are clearly labeled Preliminary or Forecast, so a reader can always distinguish an interim estimate from a verified official value.

In parallel, a substitute source is incorporated quickly — replacing discontinued sources is one of the standing quality-assurance practices, alongside increasing the number of sources and strengthening validation procedures. The replacement follows the same selection priority as any other source: official and recognized institutions — national statistics bureaus, governmental agencies, and international multilateral organizations — come first.

The change is documented in the Intratec Release Notes, published monthly and publicly available, so the lineage of every affected series remains traceable: any user can see how and why the sourcing behind a figure changed over time.