The International Monetary Fund has today recognised that the Office for National Statistics (ONS) is fully meeting the Special Data Dissemination Standard Plus, the highest tier of IMF’s data standards. James Benford and Rebecca Richmond reflect on the new data we are now publishing and how this lays the foundation for further improvements.
Read more on Making progress on improving UK financial statistics The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has today published its second progress update on its Economic Statistics Plan (ESP) and Survey Improvement and Enhancement Plan (SIEP). The two plans were launched in June 2025 to improve the quality and long-term sustainability of the UK’s core economic statistics. James Benford reflects on a period of continuing tangible improvements, the challenges we have encountered and how we are responding across the breadth of work.
Read more on Making progress on improving UK economic statistics
The picture the Office for National Statistics (ONS) paints of how the economy is faring would not be possible without businesses supplying their data to us. James Benford describes the key themes of a recent exercise to better understand the needs and experience of businesses as both contributors and users of ONS data.
Read more on How we are listening to businesses: Modernising data, reducing burden and building trust
Building momentum to deliver further improvements to the quality of our core statistics is the big focus for the Office for National Statistics as we enter the new year. ONS Director General of Surveys and Economic Statistics James Benford looks ahead to some of the planned changes that are due to be rolled out this year to improve the quality of key economic statistics.
Read more on Driving Forward: Our Plans for 2026 and Beyond
Public Sector Finance estimates are fed by data sources outside the ONS and when one is miscalculated, it affects the overall picture. Here, James Benford talks through the correction published today following HM Revenue & Customs’ identified error, and the steps being taken to improve the sources that feed these important statistics.
Read more on An update and explanation on the public sector finance statistics
