Start postwar economic history with the raw statistics

What should a reader consult to understand the economic background to postwar Royal Navy retrenchment?

Begin with B. R. Mitchell's British Historical Statistics, then compare interpretive histories against its raw data.

The long-run statistical tables are a better starting point than a single narrative of the British economy. Interpretive books often select figures that support a particular economic school or political argument. Mitchell's compilation lets the reader see the underlying series across many decades before assessing those claims. For naval history, that baseline helps test explanations of why Britain could or could not preserve ships such as Vanguard after the war.