Regional output growth in the United Kingdom : more timely and higher frequency estimates from 1970

Koop, Gary and McIntyre, Stuart and Mitchell, James and Poon, Aubrey (2020) Regional output growth in the United Kingdom : more timely and higher frequency estimates from 1970. Journal of Applied Econometrics, 35 (2). pp. 176-197. ISSN 0883-7252 (https://doi.org/10.1002/jae.2748)

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Abstract

Output growth estimates for regions of the UK are currently published at an annual frequency only, released with a long delay, and offer limited historical coverage. To improve the regional database this paper develops a mixed-frequency multivariate model and uses it to produce consistent estimates of quarterly regional output growth dating back to 1970. We describe how these estimates are updated and evaluated on an ongoing, quarterly basis to publish online (at www.escoe.ac.uk/regionalnowcasting) more timely regional growth estimates. We illustrate how the new quarterly data can contribute to our historical understanding of business cycle dynamics and connectedness between regions.