Latest news
Note on the use of historical AFiD data
Under Section 13a of the Federal Statistics Law, the identification numbers used for linking in economic and environmental statistics must be deleted 30 years after the completion of a survey. Therefore, all identification numbers of the reporting year 1995 must be removed from the AFiD data by 31.12.2026 (and subsequently one additional year each year). To maintain the evaluability of historical data for science, the RDC has developed a new product: AFiD-Fix-Panel. Through uniform pseudonymisation, the linkability is retained both cross-sectionally across all AFiD products and longitudinally. Linking with external characteristics at the macro level is also possible. The first Fix-Panel covers the years 1995–2021 and will be available from 01.01.2027. Further information can be found here.
Adjustment of fees in the RDC starting 2026
From 1 January 2026, new fees for data use in the Research Data Centres of the Statistical Offices of the Federation and the Federal States (RDC) will come into force. The new fee structure is tiered and is based on the resulting supervising costs for the RDC. In addition, there will be a cap on the number of data users per project. Students and PhD students will continue to be supported by strong discounts. Information on the background to the adjustments, an overview of the new fee structure and information on dealing with requests for access, extensions and elongations can be found here.
New E-Learning: The Learning Cards of the RDC
From now on, the new RDC E-Learning is available to you (unfortunaltely only in German). It conveys in an illustrative way all the important basics about working with the microdata of the RDC. Here you can find more information about the learning cards.
New way of data access: Remote-SUF
Since January 2025, the data offer of the RDC has been supplemented by Remote Scientific Use Files (Remote-SUF). Data users can thus gain access to factually anonymous microdata via the new Remote Access System of the RDC. Initially, Remote-SUF will be available for the DRG statistics and the Microcensus. Detailed information and a FAQ on the new way of data access Remote-SUF can be found here.