Make it up as you go along

Here is a return to an old bug bear of mine .Statistics . The Retail Federation is saying UK sales over the festive period " may " have been higher than last Christmas . So the word" may " has been used to promote an image of better results without the need for stats over the Christmas season . The truth will out no doubt soon with proper figures but nothing will be lost for now as a temporary positve picture has been portrayed ( and this is all thats needed for now ) and can always be back tracked on , but heh spending for now is " up " and this is " good " Of course another method of spinning the stats is measuring in very small tenths of a percent such as 0.2 or something stupid . This can show a movement from your last figure easily in whatever direction you like and can turn a NEGATIVE in to a POSITIVE for inflation or economic " growth " and the more often you measure in a year the more movements however small you can show and this appears impressive . Now our economy has stopped growing for the long term future you will see this method used to show slight " growth " Much better than saying its in decline slightly . Government must love it... Now imagine if we could live like this ?