Dear Ed
Release Arrangements for Economic Statistics
In your letter to my predecessor on 10 March 2025, you asked for an update by the end of 2025 on future reviews of our alternative release time of 0700 for economic statistics.
As previously stated, we need to ensure that the ONS website is robust enough to manage the increased traffic we would expect from any revert to a release time inside market trading hours, providing even and timely access to all users following a release. We also need to improve our data Application Programme Interface (API) capability to better meet user needs.
The ONS is currently transforming its website, underpinned by a new content management system and the first iteration of our data catalogue API, and we are improving our statistical releases, focusing on what audiences need most and delivering streamlined, clearer information. The enhancement of our website is a priority project for the ONS. We have started a new and enhanced ‘cache-clearing’ service so that all users are directed to the new data and statistical article pages within the first few seconds of our 7am releases, rather than older "cached" versions, meaning they have access to the latest data and statistics more quickly.
As you would expect, we have also taken the opportunity to review our arrangements for preparing sensitive publications for release onto our public website, in light of the experience of others in recent months. The ONS uses a purpose-built, secure content management system to ensure no data are available publicly before scheduled publication times. We continually evolve our practices and processes in order to stay ahead of emerging threats and reflect evolving standards.
We have also been engaging users on the design of our new website and the response has been positive. We will continue to engage users as the website and data API develop and adapt our approach in line with feedback. Economic statistics publications will start to be released on the new website platform from summer 2026.
As previously committed, once we have implemented improvements and gained assurance through their smooth running, we will review this issue again, before the end of 2026. That review will assess how best we release our data to fulfil the ONS’s mission of providing statistics to underpin critical decisions and inform the public. It will include assessments of:
- operational considerations including website robustness, API access and functionality;
- stakeholder views and user needs;
- the operation of the financial markets and their regulatory environment.
The review will not be restricted to a binary choice of 0700 or 0930 but look at all options, including other release times within market hours. We will also consider as part of the review, the case for reinstating ‘pre-release' briefing arrangements, to support accurate immediate reporting of our releases, and, if there is a case, which release times best support those arrangements.
We will update on progress to enhance our website as part of our quarterly reporting on our work to improve economic statistics. We will also update you on our plans to review our release times for economic statistics in the second half of 2026.
Your sincerely,
James Benford