The Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR) has today published its review of UK Trade Statistics, produced by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
The review assesses compliance with the Code of Practice for Statistics and evaluates progress since the previous assessment in 2015, which followed the removal of the Accredited Official Statistics (previously called National Statistics) status in 2014.
UK Trade Statistics measure the total value of UK exports and imports of goods and services. They provide essential data for economic policy and decision-making, contributing to key outputs including National Accounts, GDP calculations, and Balance of Payments figures.
ONS has undertaken significant development of these statistics over recent years, our report highlights significant improvements made by the ONS since 2014 on:
- The addition of trade in services to monthly publications
- Publication of estimates with enhanced data granularity and coverage
- More extensive user engagement
However, OSR identified several areas requiring attention and improvement before re-accreditation can be considered including:
- Providing clearer information about the uncertainty surrounding trade in services estimates and analysing the pattern of revisions
- Synthesising previous work on trade asymmetries to enable users to make more informed use of the data
- Updating quality and methodology documentation
- Reviewing resources available and publishing a plan for implementing a more effective and efficient processing system
Ed Humpherson, DG Regulation said:
“OSR will continue to work with the ONS to monitor its progress in meeting the requirements set out in our report and determine when they are ready to be considered for re-accreditation as Accredited Official Statistics.”
Notes to editors:
The Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR) provides independent regulation of all official statistics produced in the UK, and aims to enhance public confidence in the trustworthiness, quality and value of statistics produced by government. OSR regulates statistics by setting the standards official statistics must meet in the Code of Practice for Statistics. We ensure that producers of official statistics uphold these standards by conducting assessments against the Code. Those which meet the standards are given accredited official statistics status, indicating that they meet the highest standards of trustworthiness, quality and value. We also report publicly on systemwide issues and on the way that statistics are being used, celebrating when the standards are upheld and challenging publicly when they are not.
OSR is independent from government ministers, and separate from producers of statistics, including the Office for National Statistics (ONS). OSR’s Director General, Ed Humpherson, reports directly to the Chair of the UK Statistics Authority Board, Sir Robert Chote. The Director General, and OSR, have wide discretion in highlighting good practice and reporting concerns with the production and use of statistics publicly.
OSR’s work is overseen by the Board’s regulation committee (made up of non-executive directors, and with no statistical producer in attendance). OSR’s budget is proposed by the Board’s regulation committee and endorsed by the Board.
For media enquiries please email regulation@statistics.gov.uk