New data sources for statistics: experiences at Statistics Netherlands

Apart from the traditional sources used by National Statistical Institutes, like sample surveys and administrative sources, nowadays more and more electronic sources of information are available that potentially can be used for the production of statistics. In the paper four sources are studied: i) Product prices on the internet, ii) Mobile phone location data, iii) Twitter text messages, and iv) Global Positioning System (GPS) data and traffic loop information. For each data source an overview is given of the usability of the collected information, as well as the practical and methodological challenges that lay ahead.