Coronavirus

Uncertainty and the ‘r’ word: What exactly is a ‘recession’?

Categories: Coronavirus, Data, Economy, Office for National Statistics, ONS
Image of graphs and money, indicating financial markets

In times when the economy appears to be slowing, commentators will inevitably debate whether or not it is moving into ‘recession’. There is, however, no official definition of a recession and the one most commonly used has the potential to be misleading. In this post Darren Morgan reveals why in official statistics the ONS tends to avoid using the ‘r’ word.    

Read more on Uncertainty and the ‘r’ word: What exactly is a ‘recession’?

The importance of UK-wide collaboration in monitoring COVID-19

Categories: Coronavirus, Office for National Statistics, ONS, Public Policy
A microscope and test tubes in a lab setting

The ONS-led COVID-19 Infection Survey (CIS) has been a vital source of data on the virus and its impacts, winning international recognition and several prestigious awards. Supporting the individual and combined needs of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, it has also become a leading example of collaborative working across the devolved administrations. In this post Esther Sutherland and Megan Crees show why that partnership has been central to the project’s success.

Read more on The importance of UK-wide collaboration in monitoring COVID-19

Make life more inclusive: understanding disabled people’s access to activities, products and services

Categories: Coronavirus, Data, ONS, Public Policy, Wellbeing
An image of three people in a park

An important part of ONS’s work is to identify and provide insight into inequalities in society. One key area we are exploring is the lives of disabled people. We have recently published two new pieces of analysis looking at access to activities, products and services. Here, the ONS’s Beth Cook and Siannan Kerrigan explain more…

Read more on Make life more inclusive: understanding disabled people’s access to activities, products and services

Ukraine crisis: How the ONS has responded to the need for better information

Categories: Coronavirus, Economy, migration, Population, Public Policy
Picture of Ukraine flag

The Office for National Statistics produces statistics to support better decisions. In this blog Liz McKeown explains how we are collecting data as quickly as possible to assist people who come from Ukraine to help understand the support and services they need.

Read more on Ukraine crisis: How the ONS has responded to the need for better information

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

Categories: Coronavirus, Office for National Statistics, ONS

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.

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