What does 'provisional' mean in a Destatis release, and why do figures get confirmed later?

Destatis, the German statistics office, published its September inflation figure as provisional on 30 September, then confirmed it unchanged on 13 October (provisional release, confirmed release). Many releases work this way: a first estimate, then a confirmed figure, sometimes with revisions in later months.

A provisional figure is an early estimate based on the data available at the time. Some prices or surveys are still arriving, so the office publishes what it has, then corrects it once the full data are in. Revisions can be small or large, and the direction is not always the same.

We would like beginners and experienced traders to share:

• How would you explain a provisional figure to a friend who has never read a statistics release?
• Do you trade the provisional figure, the confirmed figure, or both?
• Has a revision ever changed a trade you were in?
• What other releases do you know that work the same way?

How to read an economic calendar explains the other terms used in releases.

In the German case the confirmed September figure matched the provisional figure exactly, which is common when the data are complete. Do you ever go back and check how often provisional figures are revised after the event, and does that change how much you trust the first print?

Please keep replies friendly and practical. Posts that promise a direction or sell signals will be removed.