LONDON WILL GET ITS OWN GDP FIGURES IN ONS OVERHAUL

LONDON is to get its own regular GDP figures for the first time under plans unveiled today by the Office for National Statistics. From September, the ONS will publish the first quarterly estimates of GDP for each of the regions of England and for Wales, calculated from VAT returns. ONS Head of GDP Rob Kent-Smith said: “These new estimates will bring a step-change in our regional statistics and faster access to detailed information about how our regional economies are faring.” Until now the present regional growth figures were available only yearly.