Few people join the stats office for the bracing outdoor life. A desk in Newport is as rugged as it typically gets, even when the number-crunchers bring us their “seasonally adjusted” figures. The Office for National Statistics has had a ramble across Britain’s “natural capital”. It’s come up with an “overall asset valuation” of £20 billion. Or to put it another way, the market cap of Imperial Brands, purveyor of such fresh-air delights as Winston, Gauloises and John Player Special.

Source: The Times July 22, 2019 23:03 UTC