There's been a sizable revision of last years non food retail sales figures changing the annual rate of growth by up to +600%. I'm aware that the past couple of months are often revised, but I've never noticed an entire year being revised. Perhaps the modified the methodology for 2006 and have changed the 2005 figures to allow for comparisons to be made. Perhaps their forecasts are routinely 600% out and I've never noticed.
Any thoughts ?
Original Figures issued December 2005
Annual Index change Jan-04 127.6 Feb-04 127.8 Mar-04 129.4 Apr-04 130 May-04 131.1 Jun-04 131.7 Jul-04 131.4 Aug-04 131.9 Revised Figures issued Jan 2006 Sep-04 133.2 Change in Oct-04 132 Annual Index the rate Nov-04 132.1 Index change Revisionof growth Dec-04 129.9 Jan-05 129.7 1.6% 130.3 2.1% +0.6 28.6% Feb-05 130.3 2.0% 130.9 2.4% +0.6 24.0% Mar-05 130.8 1.1% 131.4 1.5% +0.6 42.9% Apr-05 130.7 0.5% 131.3 1.0% +0.6 85.7% May-05 130.6 -0.4% 131.2 0.1% +0.6 -120.0% Jun-05 132.5 0.6% 133.1 1.1% +0.6 75.0% Jul-05 131.4 0.0% 131.8 0.3% +0.4 Aug-05 132.7 0.6% 133.3 1.1% +0.6 75.0% Sep-05 133.3 0.1% 133.9 0.5% +0.6 600.0% Oct-05 133.5 1.1% 134.2 1.7% +0.7 46.7% Nov-05 134.6 1.9% 135.7 2.7% +1.1 44.0%