Set ddata UK small area gross value added (GVA) estimates

This dataset is a secondary breakdown of gross value added (GVA) data published in our annual Regional economic activity by gross domestic product, UK release. It provides granular data for Lower-layer Super Output Area (LSOA, in England and Wales), Data Zone (DZ, in Scotland) and Super Output Area (SOA, in Northern Ireland) levels, which we call the “building blocks”. These can be aggregated to build larger geographical areas for analysis and comparison.

We perform quality checks, outlier detection and treatment, and statistical disclosure testing on GVA statistics to produce stable and non-disclosive series at LSOA, DZ and SOA levels. 

We advise caution when making comparisons between data at granular (building block) level. This is because data at the lowest levels are more volatile than for larger aggregated geographies.

The economic composition of small areas varies greatly, from primarily residential areas to areas of industry.

When building blocks data are used to construct larger geographies for analysis and comparison, these risks lessen, as larger areas will tend to contain a more balanced mix of activities.  

The data are presented as total GVA, with no industry breakdown, and in current prices (not in chained volume measures).

Current price growth rates are affected by volume and price changes, so users should take caution in interpreting growth in current price terms. Chained volume measures cannot be simply added together to form larger aggregates, so they would be of no use in a set of building blocks.