Measuring Business Cycles with Rapid Estimates

Statistics Netherlands developed a factsheet containing several indicators measuring conjunctural change. This factsheet can be divided into three parts. The first part is based on 15 macro-economic indicators. The second part consists of the export condition monitor (ECM). The third part consists of 10 rapid indicators. Until now this research was mainly focussed on collecting existing statistical data and putting it in a general context. When collecting data some methodological issues raised. These issues are discussed in the last part of this paper and are challenges for further research.