Does a fall in the UK's healthy life expectancy mean what you think it means?

Tim Harford investigates some of the numbers in the news. This week:

Headlines have claimed that “healthy life expectancy” in the UK has fallen by two years. What does this actually mean?

A new government report estimates that HS2 will cost almost double its original estimate. We ask where the money’s gone.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has reduced VAT on theme parks, aquariums and other summer fun. But will these savings get passed on to the consumer?

And Tim gives a much-anticipated update on his recent marathon.

Contributors:

Stuart McDonald - actuary at LCP Health Analytics

John Burn-Murdoch - Chief Data Reporter for the Financial Times

Kate Lamble - journalist and presenter of ‘Derailed: The story of HS2’

Dan Neidle - founder of Tax Policy Associates

Credits:

Presenter: Tim Harford

Reporter / Producer: Lizzy McNeill

Producers: Tom Colls, Nathan Gower and John McMinn

Production co-ordinator: Brenda Brown

Sound mix: Neil Churchill

Editor: Richard Vadon