UK statistics agency trims publications to refocus on core data quality

Why the ONS Is Reducing Publications

LONDON, Feb 19 (Reuters) - Britain's statistics agency said on Thursday it would cut some of its publications under a plan to fix persistent quality problems with core data releases.

Timeline: 10% fewer reports in 2026

The Office for National Statistics said it would reduce the number of reports it produces by about 10% in 2026 to help it prioritise.

Health Surveys and Night-time Economy

Scope of Reductions

The agency said it would reduce its work on health surveys, end its work on the night-time economy and pause its quarterly greenhouse emissions data.

Restoring Core Statistics Quality

Pause to Greenhouse Emissions Data

"Difficult decisions to reduce the number of our publications are essential to restoring the quality of our core statistics," ONS Permanent Secretary Darren Tierney said.

Labour Force Survey Response Rates

Impact on Labour Market Data

In 2023 the ONS said it found problems with low response rates to its Labour Force Survey. The LFS is used to calculate Britain's unemployment rate and other key measures of the jobs market. It is being overhauled.

Monetary Policy Considerations

Implications for the Bank of England

The Bank of England typically uses the ONS' labour statistics as part of its decision-making process on interest rates. Governor Andrew Bailey has described the deterioration of the data quality as a "substantial" problem.

(Reporting by Suban AbdullaEditing by William Schomberg)