National Statistical

How the ONS is helping to deliver the National Data Strategy

Alison Pritchard
June 2, 2021

Categories: Data, Data Science Campus, Office for National Statistics, ONS

The UK’s National Data Strategy sets out the government’s vision for supporting the UK to build a world-leading data economy. The Office for National Statistics is mentioned throughout and is playing a pivotal role on delivering several elements of this strategy. In today’s blog Alison Pritchard talks through all of the work the ONS is doing for this strategy to ensure the UK is able to transform the way it uses data in order to improve decision making and the services people rely on.

Strengthening Income and Earnings statistics

Debra Prestwood
June 1, 2021

Categories: Data, Economy, Office for National Statistics, ONS

Image depicting income data, charts and a pile of coins

The coronavirus pandemic has highlighted the importance of producing a clear and consistent UK-wide picture of people’s lives and the state of the economy. Our statistics on income and earnings are a critical component of this picture, necessary to understand its impact on wages, incomes, and more broadly household finances. Here, Debra Prestwood explains how statistical producers from across the Government Statistical Service (GSS) are coming together to improve the coherence and accessibility of these data.

Understanding COVID-19 Variants – What Can The Coronavirus Infection Survey Tell Us?

Sarah Crofts
May 28, 2021

Categories: Coronavirus, Office for National Statistics, ONS

The ONS is reporting signs of a recent increase in COVID-19 infection rates in much of the UK. There are also indications of the first cases of the newer B.1.617.2 variant. The ONS survey repeatedly tests a large, randomised sample of the entire community population. In this post Sarah Crofts explains what it can tell us about the spread of COVID-19 variants.

The pandemic has revolutionised public data and there’s no turning back

Ian Diamond
May 20, 2021

Categories: ONS

The last year has been transformative for the use and understanding of public data, including at the Office for National Statistics. In this piece, which first appeared in the Times, the UK’s National Statistician, Professor Sir Ian Diamond, breaks down how far we’ve come.

Beware Base Effects

Grant Fitzner
May 19, 2021

Categories: ONS

The sharp rise in consumer prices inflation revealed in the latest monthly data has inevitably prompted speculation about what’s to come. To fully understand the new figures, however, it’s important to remember that we have just passed the first anniversary of the pandemic. As Grant Fitzner explains, the statistical effects of that landmark need to unravel before the real the path of inflation and other economic statistics becomes clear.