Many embassies have to report regularly on the economic development of the host country, using reliable statistics.
In some countries, such as North Korea, access to reliable statistics is extremely difficult to gain.
In such cases, it might be impossible to assess the country's economic situation correctly.
Important economic events have to be observed and reported.
Such events include revaluation or devaluation of the local currency, the publication of a new national budget, a dramatic increase in the foreign currency reserves, changes in the banking system and the tools of financial policies, or changes in large programs for public spending.