An accessible guide to the Office for National Statistics dashboard and the main statistical releases such as the labour market bulletin, consumer price inflation and GDP monthly estimates
What the ONS dashboard shows — and why it matters
The Office for National Statistics publishes a steady flow of releases that together map the UK’s economic position. The ONS dashboard brings those releases into one interactive view so you can see how headline measures—unemployment, consumer price inflation and GDP—relate to the underlying data that drive them.
This guide explains what the dashboard displays, which recent bulletins feed it (notably the Labour Market Overview, GDP monthly estimate and Consumer Price Inflation releases from February 2026), and how to use the tools to turn official numbers into practical insight.
This is a descriptive guide, not a forecast. It focuses on who produces each dataset, what each bulletin covers, when it was published, and why those statistics matter for analysts, policymakers and business users who need clear, trustworthy information.
How the dashboard is organised — and how to use it
The dashboard links headline indicators to the tables, methods and documentation that underpin them.
That makes it easy to move from a top-line figure to the component series and metadata that explain why the number moved.
Recent releases that populate the dashboard
– Labour Market Overview, UK — published 17 February 2026 – GDP: Monthly estimate, UK — published 12 February 2026 – Consumer Price Inflation, UK — published 18 February 2026
Three core views to explore
– Headline panel: the most recent published estimates for quick situational awareness. – Component panel: detailed breakdowns (for example, employment by industry, or GDP by expenditure). – Time‑series panel: historical and seasonally adjusted series for trend analysis.
Practical tips for using the interface
– Align series using the date selector so you compare the same reporting period. – Filter by region, industry or demographic group to surface local or subgroup patterns. – Click any series to open definitions, methodology notes and revision histories. – Export CSVs or use the API to reproduce charts, run custom filters, or combine ONS data with your own.
Reading short-term movements
Month‑to‑month swings often come from volatile subcomponents rather than broad economic shifts. Before drawing conclusions, check component series, review revision notes, and see whether changes are consistent across employment, output and prices. Persistent divergence across these indicators is a stronger signal than a solitary headline move.
Key interactive features
The dashboard includes familiar but powerful tools: time‑range toggles, series overlays, hover-for-metadata, and direct links to the source bulletins and methodology pages. Panels for employment, unemployment, economic inactivity, retail sales, producer prices and GDP all point back to the supporting tables so you can drill down quickly.
Other helpful elements
– Downloadable charts and tables in common formats. – Flags for provisional series and recently revised estimates. – Sampling limitations and quality notes displayed alongside charts for transparency.
What to watch next
Higher‑frequency administrative data and near‑real‑time indicators are increasingly important for official monitoring. They give faster signals—but they also require scrutiny of provenance, coverage and governance. A straightforward workflow: start with the headline series, check the linked methodology, review revision histories and component breakdowns, and subscribe to bulletin alerts so you don’t miss material updates.
This is a descriptive guide, not a forecast. It focuses on who produces each dataset, what each bulletin covers, when it was published, and why those statistics matter for analysts, policymakers and business users who need clear, trustworthy information.0
This is a descriptive guide, not a forecast. It focuses on who produces each dataset, what each bulletin covers, when it was published, and why those statistics matter for analysts, policymakers and business users who need clear, trustworthy information.1
This is a descriptive guide, not a forecast. It focuses on who produces each dataset, what each bulletin covers, when it was published, and why those statistics matter for analysts, policymakers and business users who need clear, trustworthy information.2
This is a descriptive guide, not a forecast. It focuses on who produces each dataset, what each bulletin covers, when it was published, and why those statistics matter for analysts, policymakers and business users who need clear, trustworthy information.3
This is a descriptive guide, not a forecast. It focuses on who produces each dataset, what each bulletin covers, when it was published, and why those statistics matter for analysts, policymakers and business users who need clear, trustworthy information.4
