🚀 go-pugleaf

----------------------------Original message----------------------------
Date:        Fri, 28 Feb 92 10:18:02
From:        A.Allan <LB1AJA@UK.AC.SHEFFIELD.PRIMEA>
Subject:     british economic statistics
To:          GOVDOC-L@PSUVM.BITNET
           FROM:
                       Alastair J. Allan
        (Main Library, University of Sheffield,  SHEFFIELD)
                     GREAT BRITAIN. S10 2TN

                 e-mail: LB1AJA@UK.AC.SHEFFIELD.PRIMEA
    e-mail (outside UK): LB1AJA@PA.SHEF.AC.UK
                  phone: 0742-768555 (x4383)




          BRITISH OFFICIAL ECONOMIC STATISTICS
                    - just in case you're interested

     Yesterday, 27th February, the Central Statistical
     Office announced to the slightly bewildered Press
     that there would not be ANY trade figures for the UK
     in the early months of 1993.  So there will not be
     any newspaper headlines like those today of the
     massive increase in the balance of trade figures
     deficit.
     This political bounty has not been engineered by
     politicians, hopeful to supress the evil news from
     the first few months of a new administration but by
     the European Community.  One of the effects of the
     closer harmonization of member states that comes
     into effect at the close of the year will be that
     Customs barriers will disappear.  Trade figures are
     currently calculated from Customs returns.  From
     1993 they will be calculated from Value Added Tax
     (VAT) returns and these will take several months to
     come onstream.
     If you want any further details about this you can
     contact:
               John Wright
               (Press Officer)
               Central Statistical Office
               Great George Street
               London.  SW1P 3AQ
               Phone: 071-270-6079

     Employment Statistics.
     There has been significant debate about the accuracy
     of government employment/unemployment statistics.
     Present figures are produced that reflect the
     system of administering unemployment benefit and do
     not give a figure that many experts will accept.
     For some time the most reliable figure has been
     published annually in the Labour Force Survey which
     samples 60,000 household.  This survey which is
     required by the EC, will now be conducted and
     published quarterly.  The first of these may be
     expected in March.


               Alastair Allan
               Chairman: Standing Committee on Official
                          Publications (SCOOP)