National Statistical

Measuring the digital economy: Is history about to be rewritten?

Richard Heys
January 19, 2018

Categories: Economy

How properly to measure the impact of digital technology is a big challenge for statisticians and economists the world over. Media reports have suggested that historic mismeasurement of the telecoms sector means that the UK’s recent economic history will have to be significantly rewritten. As ONS Deputy Economist Richard Heys explains, it really isn’t as simple as that.

Celebrating 60 years of Family Spending

Joanna Bulman
January 18, 2018

Categories: ONS

Our household spending reports are now celebrating their diamond jubilee. Here Joanna Bulman, who heads the ONS Family Spending team, explains what’s changed down the years – and a little of what hasn’t.

The digital evolution of ONS

Categories: Data, ONS

Digital technology is fast changing the way ONS operates. More surveys are moving online and new devices are helping the tireless ONS field force to better engage with the public. Here, Jason Bradbury describes the “huge steps” already taken – and what’s coming next.

Reflecting views on the 2021 Census

Iain Bell
December 14, 2017

Categories: Census, ONS, Population, Public Policy

A further update from Iain Bell on development work for the 2021 census. As ONS continues to develop its recomendations for government, some questions are now on course for inclusion. Others, on topics including ethnicity and religion as well as sexuality and gender identity, are still to be decided on.

Using credit card payments data for the public good

Tom Smith
December 13, 2017

Categories: Data, Economy

The intelligent use of data gathered by our leading financial institutions can result in faster, more detailed economic statistics. Tom Smith describes how a joint event staged by ONS and Barclaycard illustrates the vast statistical potential of anonymised payments data.