# Overloaded website prevents UK statistics agency from releasing economic data after markets open

The release of economic data was moved to 7am in 2020, and research has suggested that if the time was reverted, the ONS website could crash.

The UK’s embattled statistics agency cannot reverse a pandemic-era decision to release official data on the state of the economy before financial markets open because its creaking website could crash, it has emerged.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) had sought views on whether to revert to releasing statistics – such as GDP and inflation data – at 9.30am. The releases were  to 7am in March 2020 to allow investors time to digest consequential data – such as  – before the start of London stock market trading at 8am.

The Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR) has agreed that the ONS can continue releasing its data at 7am to minimise disruption to public bodies, financial market participants, the media and members of the public that use the data and avoid overwhelming the website, according to an exchange of letters between the two bodies.

The statistics agency is under  amid major issues with data collection after years of under-investment.

Bank of England policymakers have criticised the ONS for its failure to recover from a drop in responses to economic surveys during the pandemic, hindering the central bank’s ability to understand the level of unemployment and earnings among the employed and self-employed.

The OSR said it accepted the ONS application that the 7am release time “increases the visibility of key statistics for the public via the media, and so better serves the public good”.

“Additionally, this mitigates the risk that ONS’s website is not robust enough to manage the increased traffic that reverting to 9.30am would likely lead to, which could risk orderly access to data for users.”

It is understood that responses from the media to the consultation were divided about the shift, though City analysts were united in their opposition to the status quo, arguing that the figures should appear in office hours when they can be properly interrogated.

Almost all other UK economic data is published during typical office hours, including the Bank of England’s interest rate policy, which is released at noon.

The Bank has cited business surveys by S&P Global Market Intelligence, regularly released at 9.30am, as a rival source of data on the health of the British economy.

The ONS said it was “concentrating its resources on key statistics and services. This includes prioritising a new website that will allow users to more readily access and interpret statistics, as well as ensuring the smooth release of market-sensitive data at peak times.”

“Similarly, additional resources are being deployed to boost survey responses – including more field interviewers, improved incentives for participants and the use of AI technology.”

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