UK services output index: public administration and defence
UK services output index: public administration and defence stood at 108 in Jul 2026, according to Office for National Statistics (ONS). It is one of the indicators in the Monthly GDP and output table (Value · Monthly), with a complete series running from Jan 1997 to Jul 2026. The complete series with an interactive chart, free to download.
This indicator in the Monthly GDP and output table
| Indicator | 07-2026 | 06-2026 | 05-2026 | 04-2026 | 03-2026 | 02-2026 | 01-2026 | 12-2025 | 11-2025 | 10-2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Services output index by industry | |||||||||||
| O — Public administration and defence | 108 | 108 | 108 | 108 | 107.9 | 107.8 | 107.7 | 107.6 | 107.5 | 107.4 | |
| P — Education | 99.1 | 98.8 | 98.8 | 99 | 99.2 | 99.4 | 99.1 | 98.8 | 98.4 | 98.4 |
Understanding UK services output index: public administration and defence
Central administration, legislative functions, foreign affairs, defence operations, justice systems, and compulsory social security administration across the United Kingdom are measured by this index. Unlike profit-driven commercial sectors, output here is largely estimated using changes in employment levels and direct labour inputs rather than market prices or sales revenues. Excluded from this scope are commercial security services and private legal practices, which fall under separate business service classifications.
Reading this series requires recognising that labour-based volume estimation can mask changes in productivity or the quality of public service delivery. Early estimates rely on staff headcounts and payroll records, which undergo routine revisions as administrative returns are verified. Analysts find year-on-year comparisons most reliable for tracking medium-term shifts in state capacity, as monthly figures are rarely adjusted for minor administrative timing differences.
Frequently asked questions
- How is output calculated without market prices?
- Staticians estimate value added by tracking changes in public sector employment and the volume of services delivered rather than sales revenue.
- Does this index cover private security firms?
- No, private investigative, guard, and security services are categorised under administrative and support service activities.
- Why are monthly movements in this series typically subdued?
- Because output estimation depends on steady workforce data, sudden shocks in the wider economy take longer to appear in public sector measures.