Britain’s economy was 2.2% larger at the end of 2023 than immediately before the pandemic, according to revised figures from the Office for National Statistics. The update lifts the previous estimate of 1.9%, suggesting the country’s post-Covid recovery was slightly stronger than earlier thought. The ONS attributed the change to methodological improvements that better capture research-and-development activity and the overseas production of U.K.-based multinationals, which boosted output in pharmaceuticals and manufacturing. Despite the adjustment, the agency said average annual growth since 1998 remains 1.8%, with average quarterly growth still at 0.5%. Separately, the statistics office has delayed publication of its July retail-sales data—originally due on 22 August—until 5 September to conduct “further quality assurance”. The postponement follows earlier suspensions of producer-price and trade figures amid broader concerns about data reliability. Persistent quality issues have drawn criticism from the Bank of England and triggered a government-commissioned review of the ONS this year. Accurate data are central to monetary-policy decisions and to the new administration’s efforts to accelerate economic growth.