Office for National Statistics (ONS)

Retail sales were 1.6% up in January to March 2026 on the previous three months. Non-food stores rose by 2.0%, with art selling well and a strong quarter for beauty product stores as retailers reported launching new collections. Read more ➡️ ons.gov.uk/businessindust…

There were 83,195 business closures in Quarter 1 2026, 1.1% down on Quarter 1 2025. The most significant decreases came from the transportation and storage, and business administration and support services industries.

There were 78,650 business creations in Quarter 1 (Jan to Mar) 2026, a fall of 8.0% on Quarter 1 2025. The most significant decreases came from the health and social care, and finance and insurance industries. Read the article ➡️ ons.gov.uk/businessindust…

Motor fuel sales rose on the quarter, with retailers saying that many motorists had been filling up their tanks in March following the start of conflict in the Middle East. Non-store retailers - predominantly online - also grew, with suggestions that the spring sales went well.

Retail sales were 1.6% up in January to March 2026 on the previous three months. Non-food stores rose by 2.0%, with art selling well and a strong quarter for beauty product stores as retailers reported launching new collections. Read more ➡️ ons.gov.uk/businessindust…

We've update our dataset on Experiences of local GP services, NHS treatment waiting lists, community health services, dentistry and pharmacy services. Analysing data from the Health Insight Survey commissioned by NHS England. Explore the dataset 🔎ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulati…

Police recorded crime data for YE Dec 2025 shows: • offences involving firearms down by 9% (4,753 offences) • homicides down by 6% (503 offences) • offences involving knives or sharp instruments decreased by 10% (49,151 offences) • shoplifting down 1% (509,566 offences)

There were an estimated 2.6 million theft incidents, an 11% decrease compared with last year’s survey (2.9 million incidents). This was mainly because of a 22% fall in domestic burglary (to 327,000 incidents) and a 14% fall in vehicle-related theft (to 596,000 incidents).

The Crime Survey for England and Wales estimated 9.6 million incidents of headline crime (theft, robbery, criminal damage, fraud, computer misuse, and violence with or without injury) in YE Dec 2025, no change compared with the YE Dec 2024. Read more➡️ ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulati…

In Mar 2026, compared with the previous month there were increases in: · the System Average Price (65%) · the System Price of electricity (20%) Both increased when compared with Mar 2025 by 30% and 8%, respectively. Read more ➡️ ons.gov.uk/economy/econom…

Direct Debit failure rate increased in Mar 2026 (2.41%) when compared with Mar 2025 (2.19%). In Mar 2026, recipients receiving State Pension had the lowest failure rate for ‘Electricity and gas’ payments (0.3%), while those receiving Universal Credit had the highest (12.0%).

In the latest economic and social change release, alongside our regular Direct Debit average amount and failure rates across the six service categories, we are introducing additional breakdowns for type of benefit received and by salary quintile.

9% of businesses experienced global supply chain disruption in Mar 2026, up 6 percentage points from Feb & the highest proportion reported since Dec 2022. Of these businesses, 46% cited conflict in the Middle East as a reason for experiencing global supply chain disruption.

When asked in early Apr 2026, 66% of all businesses expressed some level of concern about energy prices, up 11 percentage points from late Mar. For businesses with 10+ employees this proportion rose to 76%, a rise of 2 percentage points. Read more ➡️ ons.gov.uk/businessindust…

23% of trading businesses reported turnover had decreased in Mar 2026 compared to the previous month. Economic uncertainty remained the most reported challenge affecting turnover for businesses in early Apr 2026 (35%), the highest proportion since the question was introduced.

Commenting on today’s public sector finances figures for the financial year ending March 2026, ONS senior statistician Tom Davies said ⬇️

Public sector net financial liabilities excluding public sector banks were provisionally estimated at 83.3% of GDP at the end of March 2026. This was 2.3 percentage points more than in March 2025.

Public sector net borrowing excluding public sector banks was £132.0 billion in the financial year ending (FYE) March 2026, £19.8 billion less than in the previous year and £0.7 billion below the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) forecast. ➡️ ons.gov.uk/economy/govern…

9,118 deaths were registered in England and Wales, week ending 10 April 2026: · 18.7% lower than expected (2,095 fewer deaths) · 12.3% involved influenza or pneumonia (1,119 deaths) · 0.3% involved Coronavirus (25 deaths) Dashboard ➡️ ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulati…

Average UK monthly private rents increased by 3.4%, to £1,377, in the 12 months to March 2026 (provisional estimate); this annual growth rate is down from 3.6% the 12 months to February 2026. Read more ➡️ ons.gov.uk/economy/inflat…

Average UK house prices increased by 1.2% (provisional estimate) to £268,000, in the 12 months to February 2026. This annual growth was up from 1.0% in the 12 months to January 2026.