The independent report, commissioned by the Greater Manchester Strategic Health Authority, also said urgent action was needed to ensure all staff, including waiting list clerks were fully trained in compiling statistics.

BBC: Waiting list fiddles: South Manchester

EIU's index measures the relative costs of doing business in 27 economies by compiling statistics relating to wages, costs for expatriate staff, air travel and subsistence, corporation taxes, perceived corruption levels, office and industrial rents, and road transport.

ECONOMIST: BUSINESS COSTS

Even so, the vagaries in the numbers point to the difficulty of compiling accurate statistics.

NPR: Fudging the Numbers on Hate Crimes

Employees toil in the bowels of Ashe Stadium, compiling and feeding match statistics to CBS telecasts.

FORBES: Open Sponsors, Open Wallets