ONS delays July retail sales for 'quality assurance'

(Sharecast News) - The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has postponed the release of its July retail sales figures, marking the latest in a series of disruptions to the country's official economic data, Reuters reported. July's figures, originally due on Friday, would reportedly now be published on 5 September "to allow for further quality assurance," the ONS said on Tuesday.

The delay added to mounting concerns over the reliability of the agency's output.

The Bank of England had criticised the ONS for weaknesses in its labour market data, while earlier this year the statistics body suspended publication of producer price figures and delayed trade balance numbers.

In June, the ONS admitted it had overstated April's consumer price inflation, further undermining confidence in its reporting.

A government review the same month cited shortcomings in leadership and insufficient priority given to funding the collection of core economic statistics.

Following that review, the ONS said it would implement changes, including temporarily splitting its top role into separate operational and statistical positions, and reallocating resources to strengthen its core work.

Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com.