Unlocking the potential of local data

Many economic forces are global, but some of the solutions to issues like competitiveness, productivity and inequality often begin on…
Read more on Unlocking the potential of local dataMany economic forces are global, but some of the solutions to issues like competitiveness, productivity and inequality often begin on…
Read more on Unlocking the potential of local dataThis week, ONS has published a range of data on what people tell us matters most to them when it comes to living a good and meaningful life. Here Tim Vizard looks at what we’ve discovered, why it is important and our plans to continue exploring beyond purely economic measures to get a fuller picture of how our society is doing.
Read more on What is the meaning of life? Measuring National well-being in the UKThe ONS has published updated and indicative estimates of GDP, which show that the economy was larger than we previously thought in 2020 and 2021, though our estimate for the UK’s monthly and quarterly economic trends is broadly unchanged. Craig McLaren explains what’s led to this brighter picture.
Read more on Improving our estimate of businesses’ outgoings during the COVID-19 pandemicGlobal issues, such as climate change, population growth and inflation to name a few, are best understood with the benefit of good global statistics. So, to that end, the ONS works in partnership with a number of countries worldwide with the ultimate aim of raising the world’s statistical capabilities.
In the latest episode of Statistically Speaking, podcast host Miles Fletcher chats to the head of the Ghanaian Statistical Service, Professor Samuel Annim; Emily Poskett, Head of International Development at the ONS; and Tim Harris of the ONS Data Science Campus’s international development team, about what international partnerships are achieving.
Read more on International Development: Growing a Global Statistical SystemFor the first time the ONS has published new data on UK Direct Debits. This new, fast and anonymised data source provides insight on consumer payments to most of the UK’s largest companies. Dragos Cozma describes how the ONS has developed this new data source with our partners at Vocalink and Pay.UK and what it tells us about the UK economy.
Read more on Direct Debits data reveal fresh economic insights