A note to users

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 building blocks can be aggregated to build larger geographical areas for analysis and comparison. 

We perform quality checks, outlier detection and treatment, and statistical disclosure testing and treatment on the GVA statistics to produce stable and non-disclosive series at LSOA, DZ and SOA levels. We advise a degree of caution when making comparisons between data at the most granular (building block) level, such as for neighbourhood analysis within a local authority. This is because data at the lowest levels are more volatile than for larger aggregated geographies. The economic composition of these small areas varies hugely, from largely residential areas to areas of heavy industry. They may also have been adjusted to deal with the perceived risk of statistical disclosure. When these 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 only as total GVA, with no industry breakdown, and in current prices (not in chained volume measures). Current price growth rates are affected by both volume and price changes, so users should be careful 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.

We welcome feedback from users on this dataset. Please contact Regional Accounts at regionalaccounts@ons.gov.uk.