Economy | Page 6 | National Statistical

Down your way: working towards more localised data on public sector spending

Jessica Barnaby
June 29, 2023

Categories: Economy, ONS, Public Policy

Since we introduced the country and regional public sector finances data in 2017, further opportunities have emerged to use alternative data sources to make these statistics more timely. Moreover, data sources and production techniques can help increase the granularity of geographical breakdowns. In this post we look at some improvements we’re working on.

Inclusive Income: How the ONS is moving beyond GDP

Richard Heys
June 9, 2023

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

Image shows a traffic jam, it is evening so there are brake lights and the speed signs are illuminated on the overhead bridge

As well as producing high-quality economic analysis and statistics, the ONS has been working on radical plans to go ‘beyond GDP’. This work includes new and innovative metrics reflecting the impact of economic change on people and the environment. Richard Heys introduces the new measure of ‘Inclusive Growth’, and explains what it says about how our lives and environment are changing.

Local Data for Local People: How new data sources are helping to calibrate communities

Statistically Speaking
May 9, 2023

Categories: Data, Economy, ONS, ONS Local, Public Policy

In this episode of Statistically Speaking we shine the spotlight on local data and look at how good statistics for small areas make for better targeted policy interventions, and more effective use of valuable public resources.

Transforming R&D statistics on Government-funded research & development

Heather Bovill
April 17, 2023

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

We have already blogged about how the UK’s statistics on research and development (R&D) are the subject of a programme of fundamental transformation. We are improving our main survey to capture a much wider group of businesses to better reflect the true extent of R&D undertaken in the UK. Now we also improving our measurement of R&D undertaken by the UK government and its agencies. Heather Bovill talks about how we are improving these estimates of what R&D the government is paying for and, importantly, where it is taking place.

The ‘R’ Word: What exactly is a ‘recession’ anyway?

Statistically Speaking
February 20, 2023

Categories: Business, Economy, Environment, Public Policy, Recession, Wellbeing

News headlines this month proclaimed the UK has ‘narrowly avoided recession’. In ‘Recessions, GDP and Beyond’, the latest episode of our ‘Statistically Speaking’ podcast, we decode the ‘r’ word and explain why this sometimes misleading term is one the ONS is often cautious to avoid.