While SME lending has surged, according to official statistics, the truth is that local governments can classify small- and medium-sized businesses however they choose in order to make their statistics meet central government mandates that credit be extended to this sector, while not actually doing a better job of making credit available throughout the SME spectrum.

FORBES: Smaller Companies' Troubles Challenge China's Economic Policy

But Congress and the president will never know the savings unless they order the Bureau of Labor Statistics to start measuring federal productivity again.

WSJ: Paul Light: The Sequester Is an Overhaul Opportunity

Some raw statistics are in order here.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Caution: Storm Approaching

The DOE complaint alleges that from 2007 through 2010, at three campuses in Dallas and North Richland Hills, Texas, ATI Enterprises knowingly misrepresented its job placement statistics to the TWC in order to maintain its state licensure, and therefore its eligibility for federal financial aid under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965.

FORBES: For-loss education: How investors, lenders stand to lose everything in ATI Enterprises

Instead of relying on statistics, Collins batted his players in the order he believes they deserve to hit, regardless of their recent production.

WSJ: Maybe Harvey Could Learn to Hit?

In law and order, too, it is a similar story of bold statistics proclaiming real change - not only the 11, 000 extra police, but also 3, 300 community support officers where this type of role simply didn't exist in 1997.

BBC: NEWS | UK | Politics | Full text: Blair on public services

The National Audit Office to review the official statistics to ensure that immigration rules are not being relaxed in order to massage the asylum figuresThe summit follows Mr Blair's promise to take a "close interest" in immigration issues after the resignation of Beverley Hughes last week.

BBC: Davis: Immigration summit was 'complacent'