5625.0 - Private New Capital Expenditure and Expected Expenditure, Australia, Sep 2019 Quality Declaration 
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 28/11/2019   
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Sampling errors (Appendix)


Level estimates


Introduction

The estimates in this publication are based on a sample drawn from units in the surveyed population. Because the entire population is not surveyed, the published estimates are subject to sampling error. The most common way of quantifying such sampling error is to calculate the standard error for the published estimate or statistic.


Example of use

The following example illustrates how to use the standard error to interpret a level estimate.

Let us say that the published level estimate for total capital expenditure is $29,758m and the calculated standard error in this case is $491m. The standard error is then used to interpret the level estimate of $29,758m.

For instance, the standard error of $491m indicates that:

  • There are approximately two chances in three that the real value falls within the range $29,267m to $30,249m ($29,758m ± $491m)
  • There are approximately 19 chances in 20 that the real value falls within the range $28,776m to $30,740m ($29,758m ± $982m)

The real value in this case is the result we would obtain if we could enumerate the total population.

The following table shows the standard errors for September quarter 2019 estimates.

Buildings and Structures
Equipment, Plant and Machinery
Total
$m
$m
$m
Mining
68
54
82
Manufacturing
60
122
142
Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services
35
17
40
Construction
26
191
189
Wholesale Trade
8
59
62
Retail Trade
64
114
173
Transport, Postal and Warehousing
51
187
194
Information Media and Telecommunications
38
14
40
Financial and Insurance Services
14
58
60
Rental, Hiring and Real Estate Services
146
124
190
Professional, Scientific and Technical Services
11
64
65
Other Selected Services
117
115
174
Total
266
378
491
New South Wales
166
177
281
Victoria
151
211
271
Queensland
75
238
254
South Australia
34
84
92
Western Australia
43
66
81
Tasmania
5
18
20
Northern Territory
5
33
33
Australian Capital Territory
4
15
16
Australia
266
378
491


Movement estimates


Example of use

Let us say that one quarter the published level estimate for total capital expenditure is $32,692m and the next quarter the published level estimate is $29,758m.

In this example, the calculated standard error for the movement estimate is $477m. The standard error is then used to interpret the published movement estimate of $2,934m.

For instance, the standard error of $477m indicates that:
  • There are approximately two chances in three that the real movement over the two-quarter period falls within the range $2,457m to $3,411m ($2,934m ± $477m).
  • There are approximately 19 chances in 20 that the real movement falls within the range $1,980m to $3,888m ($2,934m ± $954m).

The following table shows the standard errors for September quarter 2019 movement estimates.

Buildings and Structures
Equipment, Plant and Machinery
Total
$m
$m
$m
Mining
28
51
57
Manufacturing
42
119
123
Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services
92
16
94
Construction
31
172
173
Wholesale Trade
15
96
100
Retail Trade
101
124
186
Transport, Postal and Warehousing
46
202
211
Information Media and Telecommunications
37
44
61
Financial and Insurance Services
26
40
46
Rental, Hiring and Real Estate Services
108
110
143
Professional, Scientific and Technical Services
14
116
116
Other Selected Services
132
155
223
Total
246
407
477
New South Wales
173
229
300
Victoria
105
225
253
Queensland
66
178
195
South Australia
66
99
127
Western Australia
31
86
95
Tasmania
3
52
52
Northern Territory
9
17
17
Australian Capital Territory
4
19
20
Australia
246
407
477