Data

Understanding the impact of the coronavirus at a local level

Image shows different types of families in illustrated form

During the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the ONS has been providing regular weekly insight into its impact on individuals and their households.  To respond to the need for more information at a local level, as restrictions vary across different parts of Britain, we have significantly increased the sample size of our weekly Opinions and Lifestyle (OPN) survey. Andrea Lacey explains the changes we have made and what can be expected in the coming weeks.

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How the COVID-19 Pandemic has accelerated the shift to online spending

Image shows someone's hands holding a credit card over a laptop keyboard, like they are shopping online

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound effect on the retail sector with many stores forced to close at the height of lockdown. During that time consumers switched their spending to online. As Rhys Dalgleish explains, since many shops have now reopened, the shift back to in store purchasing has begun but a far higher proportion remains online than before the crisis.

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Measuring the UK housing market?

Image of a house on a scales. There is a green up arrow on the left and a down arrow in red on the right of it

House prices and the state of the property market are an abiding national obsession. How much is my place worth, are prices rising around here and can I afford to buy yet? The coronavirus pandemic has made the task of collecting data about the housing and rental markets more challenging, but the ONS and others have  continued to produce figures. Here Chris Jenkins looks what they say about the state of the property market in pandemic so far.

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How does living in a more deprived area influence rates of suicide?

Every year, organisations and communities come together on World Suicide Prevention Day to raise awareness of how we can create a society where fewer people reach the point where they feel suicide is their only option. Ben Windsor-Shellard from the ONS, along with Magdalena Tomaszewska and Mette Isaksen from Samaritans, reflect on the latest suicide figures and analysis of suicide rates by local area deprivation.

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