The Cost Desk

Corrections policy

If a number is wrong, we say so

Cost data goes stale and sources get revised. This is how we deal with that.

Reporting a problem

Email [email protected] with the page, the figure you think is wrong and, if you can, a source. We read every report and reply to those that give an address.

What we do about it

  • We check the report against the source before changing anything.
  • A confirmed error is fixed and the page shows the change and the date.
  • If a fix moves a range by a large amount, we note it at the top of the page, not only at the bottom.
  • If a source turns out to be unreliable, we replace it and relabel the assumption.
  • We do not quietly edit a figure after publishing.

Updates versus corrections

A correction fixes a mistake. An update brings numbers in line with new data, for example new wages or new shelf prices. Both show a date. Only corrections are listed in the log below.

Correction log

None yet. The site has not been published.