Our population is growing and most of us can expect to live longer lives. But are we actually healthier, or…
Read more on The role of public data in diagnosing the nation’s health Just as the nature of crime evolves, so must the data sources we rely on to capture its true nature and extent. If you’ve listened to the media you may have got the impression that overall crime in England and Wales is at record levels, but do the statistics back that up, or has crime actually been falling? Or is it the case that the nature of crime has simply changed over the last few decades, meaning we’re now more likely to be targeted online than in the streets?
Read more on Understanding the impact of crime on society through data At a time of exponential growth in data of all kinds, the potential for data science to improve public services and achieve better health outcomes has never been greater. But we also have a responsibility to ensure that those data are used ethically and protect individual privacy. Starting with the UK parliament’s objective for the Office for National Statistics (ONS) to produce and publish statistics for the public good, the latest episode of ‘Statistically Speaking’ explores how this is being delivered in practice, while looking at the safeguards in place to protect personal data, and the public’s changing perception of acceptable data use.
Read more on The importance of ethics and privacy in producing statistics for the public good
Today the ONS Data Science Campus is celebrating its second anniversary. Tom Smith and Heather Savory take a look back at the last two years and recap some of the exciting innovations and achievements so far.
Read more on Looking to the future at the Data Science Campus
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.
Read more on Shopping Around for Retail Data? How ONS keeps tabs on a fast-changing sector
