Office for National Statistics

Inclusive Income: How the ONS is moving beyond GDP

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.

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

Antibody testing

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.

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What’s next for Census 2021?

Picture of the online census form

Long gone are the days when census statistics were published in huge printed volumes. Now the Office for National Statistics is making the latest census information as easy as possible to use online so everyone can navigate the breadth and depth of census information and find reliable answers to their questions.  In this post Jen Woolford sets out the variety of ways in which people will be able to access the census statistics they need in coming months. 

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Revolutionising administrative data: a look into the future of population and migration statistics

Crowds of people walking through a busy street

Census 2021 has delivered a wealth of insight over recent months and will soon embark on an innovative new ‘open source’ phase. In addition, the Office for National Statistics is evolving to deliver more frequent, timely and relevant population statistics to better meet user needs. Underpinned by a suite of research and evidence, this year will see a call for views on our ambitious work. Here, Jen Woolford explains what’s coming in 2023. 

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How many people have had COVID-19? The challenge of reinfections

Since the appearance of Omicron variants in December 2021, the number of people being reinfected with COVID-19 has increased markedly. As Leanne Massie explains, this affects our ability to estimate the total number of people who have had COVID-19 at least once.

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