Index of Services, UK: October 2021

• Monthly services output grew by 0.4% between September 2021 and October 2021 to reach a level that is the same as February 2020, the last month of "normal" trading conditions prior to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

• There were rises in 8 out of the 14 sectors in the Index of Services.

• The largest contribution to growth was from human health and social work activities, which contributed 0.3 percentage points to growth in the index of services; the most notable fall was in accommodation and food service activities, which contributed negative 0.2 percentage points to growth in October 2021.

• Services output for the three months to October 2021 rose by 1.1%, compared with the three months to July 2021; accommodation and food service activities rose most over this period, by 15.7%.

• The coronavirus pandemic and other events have changed output in the services industries, although each sector has been affected differently; for further and detailed analysis of the effect on our monthly Index of Services estimate, please see our GDP monthly estimate, UK: October 2021 article.

Data sources and collection

The Index of Services (IoS) is compiled using data from several different sources:

• ONS: Monthly Business Survey (44.4%)

• ONS: Retail Sales Inquiry (6.4%)

• ONS: Government Expenditure (20.1%)

• ONS: Households' Expenditure (15.3%)

• ONS: Finance Expenditure (7.8%)

• Other (5.9%)

The Monthly Business Survey (MBS) data are published alongside this release in Monthly Business Survey (MBS) turnover in services industries.

Data relating to the retail industry are broadly comparable with Retail sales, Great Britain: October 2021, published on 19 November 2021.

For further information on what is included within Other, please see the GDP(o) data sources catalogue.

The percentage of each data source is based on their gross value added weight. The Index of Services (IOS) methodology provides more information on the data that underpin these statistics; of particular note is the GDP(o) data sources catalogue.

From February 2018, Value Added Tax (VAT) data have also been included across 64 production industries for small- and medium-sized businesses. For more information, see VAT turnover data in national accounts: background and methodology.

Quality and methodology

More quality and methodology information on strengths, limitations, appropriate uses, and how the data were created is available in the Index of Services QMI.

Coronavirus (COVID-19)

The Office for National Statistics' (ONS') Monthly Business Survey (MBS) is fully online, meaning that business owners can logon from any location and submit their data at an appropriate time. Most other data in the Index of Services (IoS) come from within the ONS and therefore will be less affected than survey data.

Our latest data and analysis on the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) on the UK economy and population is now available on a new coronavirus web page. This will be the hub for all special coronavirus-related publications, including the fortnightly Business Impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) Survey (BICS).

The ONS has released a public statement on COVID-19 and the production of statistics. If you have specific queries, you can email the Media Relations Office.

Consultation on the Code of Practice for Statistics - proposed change to 9:30am release practice

On behalf of the UK Statistics Authority, the Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR) is conducting a consultation on the Code of Practice for Statistics, proposing changes to the 9.30am release practice. Please email comments by 21 December 2021 to: regulation@statistics.gov.uk

Economic statistics governance after EU exit

Following the UK's exit from the EU, new governance arrangements are being put in place that will support the adoption and implementation of high-quality standards for UK economic statistics. These governance arrangements will promote international comparability and add to the credibility and independence of the UK's statistical system.

At the centre of this new governance framework will be the new National Statistician's Committee for Advice on Standards for Economic Statistics (NSCASE). NSCASE will support the UK by ensuring its processes for influencing and adopting international statistical standards are world leading. The advice NSCASE provides to the National Statistician will span the full range of domains in economic statistics, including the National Accounts, fiscal statistics, prices, trade and the balance of payments and labour market statistics.

There is further information about NSCASE available to view.