Office for National Statistics
/ˌɒfɪs fə ˌnæʃnəl stəˈtɪstɪks/
/ˌɑːfɪs fər ˌnæʃnəl stəˈtɪstɪks/
(abbreviation ONS)
- a British government department which researches and publishes social and economic statistics, including trade figures and the Retail Price Index. It also publishes the results of the census (= an official count of the population). The ONS is independent of ministers and instead reports through the UK Statistics Authority to Parliament and to the administrations of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.