Methodology

Data sources. Every chart is drawn from a public dataset: the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED), the World Bank, the UK Office for National Statistics and Eurostat. Each chart page names the original source, links to it and states its licence.

Refresh policy. Each dataset is checked on its own schedule, weekly, monthly or quarterly. When the source publishes new or revised numbers, the chart, its data table, its CSV and its images update, and the Updated date on the chart changes. Revisions by the source replace the earlier figures.

Transformations. A chart shows values as published unless it says otherwise. Where it shows the percentage change on a year earlier, that is computed from the published series against the same month, quarter or year a year before.

Corrections. If a chart or its text is wrong, tell us through Get in Touch. We correct it on the page and say what changed.