Consultation on release times for market sensitive economic statistics

Overview

We are seeking views and evidence on different potential release times for Office for National Statistics market sensitive economic statistics. Your feedback will help inform a recommendation to the Office for Statistics Regulation.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) is reviewing the release times for its market sensitive economic statistics. The review will consider whether the current arrangements continue to best serve the public good, support user needs and align with the principles of trustworthiness, quality and value set out in the Code of Practice for Statistics. 

Most official statistics are released at 0930 in line with the Code of Practice for Statistics. Since March 2020, ONS market sensitive economic statistics have been released at an alternative release time of 0700, as requested under the Code of Practice for Statistics and agreed by the Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR).

This alternative time was originally a response to the practical restrictions and increased risk brought on by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, including the need to suspend secure ‘lock-in’ briefings for accredited newswires. It also reflected operational constraints on the ONS website at the time, the impact of which were reduced if the ONS published market sensitive statistics outside of trading hours. There has subsequently been a programme of work to improve the operational performance of the ONS website and ensure reliable access at the point of release.

In July 2026, the trading hours for Sterling Overnight Index Average (SONIA) futures and long gilt futures traded on ICE Futures Europe were extended to open at 0100 and close at 2100. As a result, market sensitive ONS statistics are now released while the relevant futures contracts are trading. Other major UK financial markets, including the London Stock Exchange and the gilt market, open after the 0700 release time. 

Ahead of this change, the ONS reviewed its website and information dissemination operations and concluded that performance was much improved, with the risks of releasing market sensitive statistics into open markets consequently reduced. Experience during July and August 2026 has supported this judgement, with website traffic increasing slightly compared with previous periods but remaining well within operational capacity.

The ONS committed to review the case for an 0700 release time by the end of 2026, and to gather a wide range of user views as part of that review. This consultation will inform a recommendation about future release times for market sensitive economic statistics and whether the ONS continues to request an alternative release time (that is any time other than 0930) to the OSR. 

This consultation seeks evidence on the impact of different release times on users and stakeholders. We are asking for views on the 0930 standard release time but having previously heard the case for an earlier time, we are also asking for views on alternative release times of 0700 and 0830. However, we are open to suggestions of other times.

Responses will be considered alongside other factors including our obligation to ensure equal access to data, promote public understanding and accessibility of the statistics (including through media coverage and reach), the impact on financial markets functioning including the timing of releases relative to other significant regular market events, and operational considerations. In parallel with this consultation, we are exploring the case for reintroducing ONS secure 'lock in' briefings for financial news wires ahead of the release of market sensitive economic statistics to aid communication at the point of publication. 

Respondents should note that some economic statistics released by other official statistics producers but related to ONS statistics are also currently released at 0700. We are working in collaboration with them and will share relevant responses to this consultation with HM Revenue and Customs, the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency, Scottish Government and the Welsh Government to enable them to review their practices. We will also seek their views as producers of such statistics.

Details 

We are interested in understanding: 

• how you use market sensitive economic statistics 

• your views on potential release time options, including how different release times affect your ability to access, analyse or respond to the statistics and the impact of these options on financial markets 

• any other considerations the ONS should consider when making a recommendation

How to respond 

Please submit your response using the online consultation form. 

We are particularly interested in evidence and examples that explain how different release times would affect your use of market sensitive economic statistics. Respondents should note that this consultation is intended to gather evidence and views. Decisions arising from the consultation will be informed by careful consideration of all responses, alongside the wider evidence base and relevant considerations, to ensure that they are proportionate, evidence-led and best serve the public good.

The consultation will run for eight weeks, closing on Friday 30 October 2026. 

Confidentiality and data protection 

We aim to be as open as possible in our processes. As part of this, users of market sensitive economic statistics from other producers will have the option to allow their responses to be shared with those producers. This option is clearly marked within the consultation. If permission is granted, the names of responding organisations will be included along with their response but individual respondents’ names will not be included with their response. For more information, view our data privacy policy.