Statistics and data
Guides
- Cash terms vs real terms: how to adjust a figure for inflation
How to turn a cash figure into real terms using the official GDP deflator or CPI index, with worked calculations from HM Treasury and ONS data.
- How to check a percentage claim
How to check percentage claims: percentage change vs percentage points, the base, compounding and small numbers. Worked with Bank of England and ONS data.
- How to check a statistic: a step-by-step method using official sources
A practical method for checking any UK statistic: find the official release, match the measure, period and status, and note the source.
- How to check a claim comparing the UK with other countries
How to check international comparisons: use one source, one year and one measure, and know market exchange rates from PPP. Worked with World Bank data.
- How to compare England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland fairly
How to compare statistics across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland: check coverage, producers, definitions and population size.
- How to find official statistics for your local area
Where to find official statistics for your town, council or constituency: ONS Explore local statistics, Nomis profiles and topic sources, with a worked example.
- How to read a chart critically
How to read a statistical chart carefully: what is plotted, units, axes, time range, source and date, with worked examples from official ONS charts.
- How to read an ONS statistical bulletin
A section-by-section walkthrough of an ONS statistical bulletin: release dates, main points, revisions notes, data quality, downloads and series IDs.
- Why official figures change: how to understand revisions
Why official statistics like GDP and population are revised, how big revisions are, and how to find the latest and earlier estimates. With 2026 examples.
- How to find historical UK statistics, from ONS time series to the Bank of England's millennium dataset
Where to find long-run UK figures: ONS time series, the Bank of England's millennium of macroeconomic data, OBR fiscal history and historic census data.
- How to use the Office for Statistics Regulation's work to judge a statistic
How to use the Office for Statistics Regulation to judge a UK statistic: accreditation status, suspensions, letters, the casework log and how to raise a concern.
- How to use the statistics release calendars to find when figures come out
How to find when UK official statistics will be published using the GOV.UK and ONS release calendars, what 'provisional' and 'confirmed' mean, and how to set alerts.