Office for National Statistics

Measuring Progress: GDP & Beyond

The ONS mission to better inform understanding of economic, environmental and social progress more broadly than can be captured purely in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has taken another step forward. Under the banner ‘Quality of life in the UK’ we have begun publishing fresh estimates of national well-being alongside the latest monthly and quarterly estimates of GDP. Combined with the recently-added Climate Change Insights publication, this quarterly package aims to offer a more holistic view of our economic, environmental and social progress. Liz McKeown unveils the new ‘GDP& Beyond’ day and invites stats users to get involved in its continuing development.

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Transforming the way we produce population statistics

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The census gives us a brilliant, detailed snapshot of England and Wales, but since census day the world has continued to change. People move home, change jobs, some will have left the country while others will have arrived. Reflecting these ongoing changes, Jen Woolford explains how the ONS is using a variety of data sources to provide more frequent, inclusive, and timely statistics to allow us to understand population change in local areas this year and beyond.

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The COVID-19 Infection Survey is changing. What does this mean for how the UK monitors the virus?

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) COVID-19 Infection Survey was launched in April 2020 to provide valuable, timely estimates on how many people were infected with COVID-19. These data helped the governments of UK countries make decisions on how to respond to the evolving pandemic and provided information to the public.
The survey is changing during 2022. What do these changes mean and how will the survey continue to be valuable? Here, Sarah Crofts explains more.

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NIGELS IN DANGER – AND OTHER MORE SERIOUS ISSUES

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It’s bad news for the Nigels, Carols, Gordons and Cheryls of the world as shifting fashions consign their names to near extinction. Speaking on the latest episode of the Office for National Statistics’ podcast series “Statistically Speaking”, Dr James Tucker of the ONS explains how the annual list of the top baby names in England and Wales unfailingly reflects changing times.

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