A glossary of the main terms used in the Input-Output (I-O) tables is in the link on the left. The sections below contain fuller discussion of the I-O structure and compilation methods.
Explanatory notes covering the basic structure of I-O and associated tables, special treatments adopted in compiling I-O tables, and using I-O tables for analysis are shown in Australian System of National Accounts: Concepts, Sources and Methods, Chapter 22, Input-Output Tables.
Modelled estimates of usage
The I-O tables contain data formatted for presentation in millions of dollars. For use by some analysts and modellers, the data in some Excel spreadsheets contain additional decimal places to facilitate loading into other applications. In the compilation of I-O tables various modelling techniques are used to populate the tables because directly collected information is not available for every cell. Consequently, very small values may be estimated in certain cells and the statistical accuracy of these data cannot be verified. Where values less than $1 million are shown, they solely facilitate reconciliation, row and column balancing and do not carry any economic meaning.
Additivity - sum of the components may not equal total
The sum of the components may not equal the reported total in all cases. This has been caused by small values (less than $500,000) being assigned to different industries or products as part of the modelling processes used in the compilation of I-O tables. Cells with a value of less than $500,000, while not displayed in the tables, have been included in the total values. The totals reported in Australian National Accounts: Input-Output Tables and Australian National Accounts: Input-Output Tables (Product Details) are related and sum to the same values.
Products combined for confidentiality purposes
The information contained in the I-O tables has been confidentialised. This confidentiality has been applied through the suppression of some values (shown as 'n.p.') and combination of Input-Output Industry Groups (IOIGs) and Input-Output Product Groups (IOPGs) 1203 and 1204 into 1205. Where values have been confidentialised, they are still included in totals where appropriate.
See also the Input-Output Quality Declaration for discussion of compilation sources and methods.
Departures from 2008 System of National Accounts
I-O tables depart from the 2008 System of National Accounts (SNA08) and from the rest of the Australian national accounts in one main respect, namely the definition of output at basic prices. The departure relates to the treatment of charges incurred in moving goods from their point of production to the final user, where delivery charges relating to delivery by a third party operator arranged by the producer and paid for by the producer and not separately charged to the end user are treated differently in SNA08.
Under the 1968 version of the System of National Accounts (SNA68) these charges were excluded from the basic price valuation of the good concerned while under the SNA08 treatment the basic price valuation of the good includes these delivery charges. The ABS considers that the change in definition was inappropriate from an analytical point of view and would result in the same product being valued differently depending on whether or not the producer charged separately for the delivery of the product. The ABS therefore applies an adjustment to the I-O tables to reallocate delivery charges separably invoiced to transport, so they are included in transport margins and reduce basic prices.
In the 2019-20 I-O tables, the value of this adjustment is $45.6b. It is applied to industries and products in agriculture, mining and manufacturing and modelled based on questions on collection forms about invoicing arrangements and transport expenses.