Understanding the News
A Seasonally Adjusted Number Answers a Particular Question
Seasonal adjustment helps compare periods without some recurring calendar patterns. Read the series label before turning a monthly change into a headline.
CONTEXT FOR EVERYDAY CURIOSITY
data literacy
Reading the News
Read the Legend Before Trusting a Colour-Coded Map
A dark patch on a map can represent several different things. Check the measure, colour scale, missing data and boundaries before sharing it.
Numbers in Context
A Percentage Needs Its Denominator Before It Becomes a Headline
Check what a percentage is a percentage of before comparing headlines, survey results or changes across groups of different sizes.
Reading public information
A Chart’s Missing Baseline Can Change the Story
Read a chart’s axis, units and time range before trusting the visual impression of a dramatic rise or a tiny difference.
Numbers in Context
Five Percentage Points Is Not the Same as Five Percent
Use a simple worked example to distinguish percentage-point changes from relative percentage changes, then check the denominator behind a headline.