Breaks in a time series

Why a sudden jump in a chart is sometimes a change in method, not in reality.

A break in series ("b") means the way a statistic is collected or defined changed between two years, for example a new survey questionnaire, a new population census or a new classification.

Values before and after a break are not fully comparable. A change across the break can partly reflect the new method.

When the last ten years of a series contain a break, the page says so next to any statement about long-term change.

Measures on this site

• Households with internet access (Eurostat)
• Unemployment rate, ages 15 to 74 (Eurostat)