A report sent on Friday may contain figures collected on Tuesday. If the cover shows only Friday’s date, readers can easily assume the information is more current than it is.
Distinguish preparation date, reporting period and data cut-off. Put the relevant labels close to the figures rather than relying on a file name. If different sections use different cut-offs, say so beside each section.
In a fictional weekly update, registrations may be current to Thursday evening while spending is reconciled only through Monday. A single phrase such as “this week’s position” hides that difference. Separate labels make the limits understandable without a long disclaimer.
Ask what decisions depend on freshness. A delayed background table may be acceptable for context but unsuitable for allocating the last available places. Flag that limitation where the decision is discussed.
Keep the previous report available through the organisation’s normal document process, and identify material corrections clearly. Do not silently replace a number in a shared file if colleagues may already have acted on it.
A useful final check is to ask someone what date they believe each headline number describes. If the answer differs from yours, improve the label before polishing the chart.
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