Methodology

A benchmark is only as useful as its provenance. The Register applies a consistent discipline to every reference it catalogues, so that a figure used to anchor or defend a position can be traced, questioned, and defended in the room.

Selection

Sources are chosen for independence, transparency of method, and update cadence. Preference is given to references whose collection method is published, and whose figures can be reproduced from primary data rather than asserted.

Corroboration

No single benchmark is treated as authoritative. A range entering a preparation is validated against at least two independent references; where they diverge, the divergence itself is recorded rather than averaged away.

Provenance labelling

Every figure carries its origin — confirmed from primary data, drawn from a secondary index, or estimated in the absence of a reference. Estimates are never silently promoted to facts.

Directional use

Benchmarks inform judgement; they do not replace it. A reference sets the plausible boundaries of a discussion. The negotiated outcome depends on leverage, alternatives, and the specific terms on the table.