I read with interest your article about the challenges of measuring Britain’s fast-changing economy.
You draw on our recent research on how new evidence can assist us in understanding the complex reality of the telecommunications sector, our analysis of changing shopping patterns around Christmas, our extensive methodological work to capture changes in consumer prices and more generally the work of our partners at the Economic Statistics Centre of Excellence which we established last year to help us measure the modern economy. We will continue to encourage research, analysis and challenge which helps us improve the statistics needed to help Britain make better decisions.
On the topics you mention, and on many other fronts, the economy which we are trying to measure is changing. To measure it effectively we need to change too. In doing this, we will continue to draw on new data sources and develop new methods to improve our statistics. Our job is to publish our best impartial assessment of the conclusions that can be drawn from conflicting signals.
I will continue to support ONS staff and the many leading thinkers who are working with us to improve our understanding of the economy. I hope your readers will do so too.
John Pullinger, National Statistician
London SW1