National Statistical

Revealing income inequalities: New data sources shed new light on key policy challenge.

Richard Tonkin
February 26, 2019

Categories: Data, Economy, ONS, Population

High levels of income inequality have been associated with lower economic growth, poor social cohesion and limited social mobility. But the most effective policy responses need to be informed by the best data. Here Richard Tonkin discusses how the ONS is upgrading its household income statistics to make them more accurate, relevant and accessible than ever before.

How many children experience the death of their mother?

Nick Stripe
February 22, 2019

Categories: ONS, Public Policy, Wellbeing

The death of a parent can have a profound impact on children which may be felt throughout their life. However, there are currently no official estimates of the number of children who are affected by bereavement. Nick Stripe explains how ONS is starting to fill the evidence gap.

Transforming how we report employment – why four is better than one

David Freeman
February 21, 2019

Categories: Data, Economy, ONS

Making ONS statistics more accessible is a key part of the ‘Better Statistics, Better Decisions’ strategy. With the ups and downs of the job market closely followed by experts and non-specialists alike, our reporting of employment statistics is changing to make the information easier to find and the main stories stand out. David Freeman reveals how.

The young ones: how do young people’s lives now differ from previous generations’?

Iain Bell
February 18, 2019

Categories: Office for National Statistics, ONS, Population, Public Policy

From the time you start work to getting married and starting a family, how do today’s young people’s lives differ from their parents’ and grandparents’? Iain Bell discusses how ONS has been contributing more insights on the emerging generations, providing better data for policy makers to make the right decisions.

Shopping Around for Retail Data? How ONS keeps tabs on a fast-changing sector

Rhian Murphy
February 15, 2019

Categories: Economy, Office for National Statistics, ONS

Evolving shopping habits are keeping UK retailers on their toes, forcing many to adapt to survive. The rise of online sales and the disappearance of some big names from UK high streets have also challenged ONS to maintain the accuracy and relevance of the Retail Sales Index. As Rhian Murphy explains, the breadth of its coverage means the RSI remains a leading indicator – not just of retailing but of the economy as a whole.