36 h. ago Office for National Statistics in crisis after another data error

July's figures were delayed for two weeks after an error in compiling them was identified, prompting revisions to mistakes in previous months' figures.

Events

47 h. ago UK’s stats body apologises after latest error skews retail sales data

The Office for National Statistics admitted to a mistake over how it adjusts its retail sales data to align precisely with calendar months.

Politics

3 d. ago Government is way behind its 1.5m homes target: Can it still be done?

The government is falling drastically short of its housebuilding targets, figures from the Office For National Statistics (ONS) suggest. 

Politics

3 d. ago Population of England and Wales aged 100 and over hits new high

The Office for National Statistics said there were an estimated 15,330 centenarians alive last year.

Events

9 d. ago Poorest households face biggest squeeze from rising UK inflation

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) found that the country’s lowest-earning households saw their cost-of-living rise by 4.1%.

Economics

1 week ago Britain's 'baby deserts' REVEALED as birth rates slump to lowest level ever

Alarming Office for National Statistics ( ONS ) data shows the fertility rate-the average number of children a woman has-in England and Wales slumped to 1.41 in 2024.

Politics

1 week ago How a bizarre summer air fare decision led to the UK’s inflation surge

Exclusive: Office for National Statistics compared term-time flight prices in 2024 with peak summer tickets this year

Economics

1 week ago Fertility rate hits record low in England, Scotland and Wales

Last year’s total fertility rate of 1.41 for England and Wales was lowest since comparable data was first collected in 1938, ONS saysThe fertility rate for England and Wales has fallen for the third year in a row to reach a record low, figures show.The total fertility rate across both nations, meaning the average number of live children women can expect to have across their child-bearing life, stood at 1.41 in 2024, down from 1.42 in 2023, the lowest since comparable data was first collected in 1938, according to the Office for National Statistics. Continue reading...

Events

1 week ago England and Wales fertility rate falls for third consecutive year

Last year’s total fertility rate of 1.41 was lowest since comparable data was first collected in 1938, ONS saysThe fertility rate for England and Wales has fallen for the third year in a row to reach a record low, figures show.The total fertility rate across both nations, meaning the average number of live children women can expect to have across their child-bearing life, stood at 1.41 in 2024, down from 1.42 in 2023, the lowest since comparable data was first collected in 1938, according to the Office for National Statistics. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Fertility rate for England and Wales falls to new record low

For a country’s population to remain stable, discounting any impact from migration, the total fertility rate needs to be around 2.1.

Politics

1 week ago Number of births in Scotland falls to lowest since records began

Official statistics from National Records of Scotland (NRS) revealed that there were 45,763 live births in 2024 – a drop of 172 from the previous year.

Politics

1 week ago UK residents spend almost three times more on trips abroad than inbound visitors

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) estimated that people from the UK made a record 94.6 million visits overseas in 2024.

Politics

1 week ago UK gender pay gap underestimated for two decades, report says

Findings suggest since 2004 ONS failed to properly account for fact it received more data from larger employersThe UK’s gender pay gap has been underestimated for more than 20 years, according to research that could raise fresh questions about the quality of data used to inform key pay decisions across the UK.The findings, released in the British Journal of Industrial Relations on Monday, suggest that, since 2004, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) had failed to properly account for the fact that it received more data from larger employers, when it reported its annual survey of hours and earnings (Ashe). Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago UK gender pay gap understated for past two decades, report finds

Office for National Statistics already under scrutiny over quality of its figures

Politics

2 w. ago FTSE ends above 9,300 for first time amid brighter PMI print

UK public sector borrowing was also better than expected last month, although the data is unlikely to end talk of tax rises in the autumn budget.

Politics

2 w. ago Government borrowing less than expected in July in boost for Reeves

The Office for National Statistics said the borrowing of £1.1 billion is the lowest July figure for three years.

Politics

2 w. ago Fact check: Wage claim confuses mean and median incomes from different years

The claim does not have any sources attached to it, but it seems likely that the poster is comparing very different figures

Politics

2 w. ago House price inflation accelerated in June as stamp duty disruption eases

The average UK house price increased by 3.7% to £269,000 in the 12 months to June.

Economics

2 w. ago Why has inflation risen and what does it mean for households?

July’s inflation rate of 3.8% means that if an item cost £100 a year ago, it would now cost £103.80.

Economics

2 w. ago UK inflation jumps to 3.8% as the cost of living for Britons goes up again

UK inflation rose by more than expected in July as demand for summer travel pushed up air fares and food prices continued to climb, the Office for National Statistics said today.

Economics