Gross Domestic Product – better known as ‘GDP’ – often makes the news, but behind the headlines are stories about industries, regions and communities. In our next Bringing Data to Life webinar, taking place on Monday 8 September from 4pm to 5pm, we’ll explore what GDP is, how it’s measured, and what it can tell us about the economy.
We’ll also look at what data we use to measure the UK’s economic growth—such as household spending and the value of the goods and services we buy—and how it helps us compare the UK economy with others around the world. This international perspective helps us see whether the UK is growing, where challenges remain, and how global events shape our economic performance.
Why GDP matters to everyone
GDP might sound abstract, but it’s closely tied to our daily lives. From the cost of your weekly shop to government spending on schools and hospitals, GDP influences the big decisions that affect us all.
To learn more about how GDP can be an important tool to make positive changes for our communities, we’ll be joined by guest speaker Mairi Spowage, Professor of Practice and Director of the Fraser of Allander Institute. She’ll share her insight into how GDP data supports better policy and decision-making.
Join the conversation live
In this session, you’ll hear from the statisticians and data scientists at the heart of measuring the economy. They work with a range of data sources, from company accounts to household surveys, to create a complete picture of economic activity.
This interactive session will shine a light on how these numbers are put together, where you can ask questions and share your thoughts via Slido. Get involved, challenge assumptions, and discover how statistics help us make sense of the economy in a more meaningful way.
How to Join
Whether you’re part of a local organisation, a curious citizen, or just want to understand more about the numbers you hear in the news, this session will help you make sense of GDP and why it matters to all of us.
📌 SIGN UP NOW on Eventbrite and be part of the conversation using #StatisticsForThePublicGood on LinkedIn, X, and Threads.
The event will be hosted on Microsoft Teams, but if you can’t make it live, don’t worry. A recording will be available on the ONS YouTube channel afterwards, so you won’t miss a thing. Curious about the rest of our Bringing data to life series? You can explore the previous webinars here too.