The Statistical Service has completed a user satisfaction survey to find out how the general public is using data provided by the service. This was revealed by the Head of Research at the Statistical Service, Ebo Duncan at the maiden Joy Business Forum in Accra. The Forum themed: “Developing reliable statistical data for national development” is geared towards providing a deeper understanding of national data. It is championed by Joy FM in partnership with the World Bank. The forum comes at a time when figures - inflation figures to be precise - churned out by the Service have been called into question. Ebo Duncan said the User Satisfaction Survey has been completed and it will help to improve on its delivery to the public. He explained that data churned out by the Service have often been misinterpreted because of differences in methodology as well as classifications. He cited a typical scenario where a Member of Parliament had questioned why unemployment rate was said to be reducing but the number of youths selling dog chains on the streets was increasing by the day. Ebo Duncan explained, per their classifications, the Service does not categorise such persons as unemployed because they earn some amount of money however meager it is. He was emphatic that the Service uses international standards and methodology in arriving at its data. Executive Director of the Centre for Policy Analysis (CEPA) Dr Joe Abbey said it was time the Service clearly examined its technical challenges. He said there was the need for the Service to liaise with the Agricultural Ministry in order to provide a better reconciliation of figures churned out by the service. Abbey said the Service must lead the way in discussing issues about the Statistical Service and must not be too technical about it.