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2026-02-19 19:51:20
[UK Office for National Statistics Cuts Some Reports to Focus on Improving Core Data Quality] ⑴ The UK Office for National Statistics (ONS) announced on Thursday that it will cut some publications as part of a plan aimed at fixing long-standing quality issues with the release of core data. By 2026, the agency plans to reduce the number of reports published by approximately 10% to allow resources to be focused on prioritizing critical statistical work. ⑵ Specific adjustments include: reducing work on health surveys, terminating statistics related to the nighttime economy, and suspending the release of quarterly greenhouse gas emissions data. The ONS Permanent Secretary stated, "Making the difficult decision to cut the number of publications is crucial to restoring the quality of core statistics." ⑶ This adjustment comes against the backdrop of low response rates to the Labour Force Survey in 2023, which is used to calculate the UK unemployment rate and other key employment market indicators. The survey is currently undergoing a comprehensive reform. ⑷ The Bank of England typically uses ONS Labour Force data as an important reference for interest rate decisions. Governor Bailey has described the deterioration in data quality as a "major" problem. This "cutting off an arm to save a life" approach reflects the statistical agency's determination to prioritize the credibility of core data under resource constraints.
