'Economic statistics' is used in its narrow definition, as statistics produced by official statistical agencies and derived from direct surveys or from Government administrative records.
Although such concerns are ludicrous to anyone who has observed the dedication, nonpartisanship and professionalism of the employees of federal statistical agencies, public cynicism toward government statistics runs deep.
Financing and technical support for statistical agencies is key.
The statistical agencies take many precautions to inspire confidence in government data.
Much of this is due to the underfunding and overstretching of their statistical agencies.
Statistical agencies are also discussing the capitalisation of research and development spending.
In 1995, the Office of Management and Budget, which coordinates the activities of all federal statistical agencies, issued a directive stating that self-identification should be encouraged.
Mr Bean was less forthcoming in his willingness to quantify just how useless the ONS was in comparison with other national statistical agencies.
"The main barrier to getting progress has been that statistical agencies around the world are run by economists and statisticians," Michalos said.
Statistical agencies usually produce "headline" inflation indices, which include all sub-sectors, as well as "core" indices that omit things like food and energy, whose prices are volatile.
That's why Congress should restore funding to the federal statistical agencies at a level that allows them to carry out their critical work.
