Complaint
An item in the programme looked at how rising oil and gas prices could affect the Government’s economic plans. A viewer complained it was inaccurate to state oil was trading at “just above $84” per barrel, giving the misleading impression that the cost of oil was “skyrocketing”. The ECU considered the complaint in the light of the BBC’s 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
