Complaint
An item in the programme looked at how rising oil and gas prices could affect the Government鈥檚 economic plans. A viewer complained it was inaccurate to state oil was trading at 鈥渏ust above $84鈥 per barrel, giving the misleading impression that the cost of oil was 鈥渟办测谤辞肠办别迟颈苍驳鈥. The ECU considered the complaint in the light of the 麻豆社鈥檚 editorial standards of accuracy.
Outcome
On the day of transmission ICE Brent futures, a widely-used benchmark for global oil markets, traded within a range of approximately $80.30 to $84.48. While the figure given in the programme was towards the top of that range, and while some other commonly-used benchmark figures were lower, the point being made was contingent, not on the precise price of oil, but on the fact that it had risen further than had been allowed for in Government estimates. The ECU therefore found no material inaccuracy.
Not upheld