diff --git a/db/migrate/create_outboxer_messages.rb b/db/migrate/create_outboxer_messages.rb
index 178be840..6f2eb6e6 100644
--- a/db/migrate/create_outboxer_messages.rb
+++ b/db/migrate/create_outboxer_messages.rb
@@ -23,6 +23,10 @@ def up
     add_index :outboxer_messages, :status, name: "idx_outboxer_status"
 
     # messages by status latency
+    add_index :outboxer_messages, [:status, :queued_at],
+      name: "idx_outboxer_status_queued_at"
+
+    # messages by status age
     add_index :outboxer_messages, [:status, :updated_at],
       name: "idx_outboxer_status_updated_at"
 
diff --git a/lib/outboxer/message.rb b/lib/outboxer/message.rb
index 25c87a37..65bf669e 100644
--- a/lib/outboxer/message.rb
+++ b/lib/outboxer/message.rb
@@ -736,6 +736,8 @@ def count_by_status
     def metrics_by_status(time: Time)
       ActiveRecord::Base.connection_pool.with_connection do
         ActiveRecord::Base.transaction(isolation: :repeatable_read) do
+          now = time.now.utc
+
           counts = Models::Thread.select(
             "COALESCE(SUM(queued_message_count), 0)      AS queued",
             "COALESCE(SUM(publishing_message_count), 0)  AS publishing",
@@ -746,21 +748,32 @@ def metrics_by_status(time: Time)
               "published_message_count + failed_message_count), 0) AS total"
           ).take
 
-          min_times = Models::Message.group(:status).minimum(:updated_at)
-          min_total = min_times.values.compact.min
-
-          now = time.now.utc
-          latencies = min_times.transform_values { |t| t ? (now - t).to_i : 0 }
-          latencies["total"] = min_total ? (now - min_total).to_i : 0
-
           counts_hash = counts.attributes.symbolize_keys.transform_values(&:to_i)
 
-          [:queued, :publishing, :published, :failed, :total].each_with_object({}) do |status, h|
-            h[status] = {
-              count: counts_hash[status] || 0,
-              latency: latencies[status.to_s] || 0
+          last_queued_at = Models::Thread.maximum(:queued_message_count_last_updated_at)
+          last_publishing_at = Models::Thread.maximum(:publishing_message_count_last_updated_at)
+          last_failed_at = Models::Thread.maximum(:failed_message_count_last_updated_at)
+          last_published_at = Models::Thread.maximum(:published_message_count_last_updated_at)
+          oldest_queued_at = Models::Message.where(status: "queued").minimum(:queued_at)
+          queued_latency = oldest_queued_at ? (now - oldest_queued_at).to_i : 0
+
+          {
+            queued: {
+              count: counts_hash[:queued], last_update: last_queued_at, latency: queued_latency
+            },
+            publishing: {
+              count: counts_hash[:publishing], last_update: last_publishing_at, latency: nil
+            },
+            published: {
+              count: counts_hash[:published], last_update: last_published_at, latency: nil
+            },
+            failed: {
+              count: counts_hash[:failed], last_update: last_failed_at, latency: nil
+            },
+            total: {
+              count: counts_hash[:total], last_update: nil, latency: nil
             }
-          end
+          }
         end
       end
     end
diff --git a/lib/outboxer/publisher.rb b/lib/outboxer/publisher.rb
index bd24a3c6..4f7a836c 100644
--- a/lib/outboxer/publisher.rb
+++ b/lib/outboxer/publisher.rb
@@ -562,13 +562,13 @@ def create_publisher_thread(id:, index:,
               process_id: process_id,
               thread_id: Thread.current.object_id,
               queued_message_count: 0,
-              queued_message_count_last_updated_at: current_utc_time,
+              queued_message_count_last_updated_at: nil,
               publishing_message_count: 0,
-              publishing_message_count_last_updated_at: current_utc_time,
+              publishing_message_count_last_updated_at: nil,
               published_message_count: 0,
-              published_message_count_last_updated_at: current_utc_time,
+              published_message_count_last_updated_at: nil,
               failed_message_count: 0,
-              failed_message_count_last_updated_at: current_utc_time,
+              failed_message_count_last_updated_at: nil,
               created_at: current_utc_time,
               updated_at: current_utc_time)
           end
diff --git a/lib/outboxer/web.rb b/lib/outboxer/web.rb
index 1b1f672d..fef3f003 100755
--- a/lib/outboxer/web.rb
+++ b/lib/outboxer/web.rb
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ def pretty_duration_from_period(start_time:,
       end
 
       def pretty_duration_from_seconds(seconds:)
-        return "-" if seconds <= 0
+        return "-" if seconds.nil? || seconds <= 0
 
         # Units for sub-second durations
         sub_second_units = [
@@ -161,23 +161,33 @@ def human_readable_size(kilobytes:)
       end
 
       def time_ago_in_words(time)
+        return "-" if time.nil?
+
         seconds = (::Time.now - time).to_i
+        future  = seconds.negative?
+        seconds = seconds.abs
 
-        if seconds < 60
-          "#{seconds} #{seconds == 1 ? "second" : "seconds"}"
-        else
-          prefix = seconds.negative? ? "from now" : ""
-          seconds = seconds.abs
+        # return "-" if seconds == 0
 
+        quantity, unit =
           case seconds
-          when 0..59 then "#{seconds} seconds #{prefix}"
-          when 60..3599 then "#{seconds / 60} minutes #{prefix}"
-          when 3600..86_399 then "#{seconds / 3600} hours #{prefix}"
-          when 86_400..2_591_999 then "#{seconds / 86_400} days #{prefix}"
-          when 2_592_000..31_103_999 then "#{seconds / 2_592_000} months #{prefix}"
-          else "#{seconds / 31_104_000} years #{prefix}"
+          when 0..59
+            [seconds, "second"]
+          when 60..3_599
+            [seconds / 60, "minute"]
+          when 3_600..86_399
+            [seconds / 3_600, "hour"]
+          when 86_400..2_591_999
+            [seconds / 86_400, "day"]
+          when 2_592_000..31_103_999
+            [seconds / 2_592_000, "month"]
+          else
+            [seconds / 31_104_000, "year"]
           end
-        end
+
+        unit += "s" unless quantity == 1
+
+        future ? "#{quantity} #{unit} from now" : "#{quantity} #{unit} ago"
       end
     end
 
diff --git a/lib/outboxer/web/views/home.erb b/lib/outboxer/web/views/home.erb
index f7ab571a..3fdeb04f 100644
--- a/lib/outboxer/web/views/home.erb
+++ b/lib/outboxer/web/views/home.erb
@@ -35,8 +35,8 @@
                                         <%= publisher[:name] %>
                                     </a>
                                 </td>
-                                <td><%= Outboxer::Web.time_ago_in_words(publisher[:created_at]) %> ago</td>
-                                <td><%= Outboxer::Web.time_ago_in_words(publisher[:updated_at]) %> ago</td>
+                                <td><%= Outboxer::Web.time_ago_in_words(publisher[:created_at]) %></td>
+                                <td><%= Outboxer::Web.time_ago_in_words(publisher[:updated_at]) %></td>
                                 <td class="text-capitalize"><%= publisher[:status] %></td>
                                 <td><%= Outboxer::Web.pretty_throughput(per_second: publisher[:metrics]['published']['throughput']) %></td>
                                 <td><%= Outboxer::Web.pretty_duration_from_seconds(seconds: publisher[:metrics]['latency']) %></td>
@@ -100,35 +100,54 @@
 </div>
 
 <div class="container mt-4">
-    <div class="card">
-        <div class="card-header d-flex justify-content-between align-items-center">
-            <h3 class="mb-0">Messages</h3>
-        </div>
-        <div class="card-body">
-            <div class="table-responsive">
-                <table class="table" style="table-layout: fixed;">
-                    <thead>
-                        <tr>
-                            <th scope="col">Status</th>
-                            <th scope="col">Count</th>
-                            <th scope="col">Latency</th>
-                        </tr>
-                    </thead>
-                    <tbody>
-                        <% Outboxer::Message::STATUSES.each do |status| %>
-                            <tr>
-                                <td class="text-capitalize">
-                                    <a class="custom-link" href="<%= outboxer_path("/messages?status=#{status}") %>">
-                                        <%= status %>
-                                    </a>
-                                </td>
-                                <td><%= Outboxer::Web.pretty_number(number: message_metrics_by_status[status.to_sym][:count]) %></td>
-                                <td><%= Outboxer::Web.pretty_duration_from_seconds(seconds: message_metrics_by_status[status.to_sym][:latency]) %></td>
-                            </tr>
-                        <% end %>
-                    </tbody>
-                </table>
-            </div>
-        </div>
+  <div class="card">
+    <div class="card-header d-flex justify-content-between align-items-center">
+      <h3 class="mb-0">Messages</h3>
+    </div>
+
+    <div class="card-body">
+      <div class="table-responsive">
+        <table class="table" style="table-layout: fixed;">
+          <thead>
+            <tr>
+              <th scope="col">Status</th>
+              <th scope="col">Count</th>
+              <th scope="col">Last Update</th>
+              <th scope="col">Latency</th>
+            </tr>
+          </thead>
+
+          <tbody>
+            <% Outboxer::Message::STATUSES.each do |status| %>
+              <% metrics = message_metrics_by_status[status.to_sym] %>
+
+              <tr>
+                <td class="text-capitalize">
+                  <% if status != Outboxer::Message::Status::PUBLISHED %>
+                    <a class="custom-link"
+                        href="<%= outboxer_path("/messages?status=#{status}") %>">
+                        <%= status %>
+                    </a>
+                  <% else %>
+                    <%= status %>
+                  <% end %>
+                </td>
+
+                <td><%= Outboxer::Web.pretty_number(number: metrics[:count]) %></td>
+                <td><%= Outboxer::Web.time_ago_in_words(metrics[:last_update]) %></td>
+
+                <td>
+                  <% if metrics[:latency] %>
+                    <%= Outboxer::Web.pretty_duration_from_seconds(seconds: metrics[:latency]) %>
+                  <% else %>
+                    -
+                  <% end %>
+                </td>
+              </tr>
+            <% end %>
+          </tbody>
+        </table>
+      </div>
     </div>
+  </div>
 </div>
diff --git a/lib/outboxer/web/views/message.erb b/lib/outboxer/web/views/message.erb
index 119bf69a..afa412ca 100644
--- a/lib/outboxer/web/views/message.erb
+++ b/lib/outboxer/web/views/message.erb
@@ -56,13 +56,13 @@
                     <tr>
                         <th scope="row">Queued</th>
                         <td title="<%= message[:queued_at].in_time_zone(denormalised_query_params[:time_zone]) %>">
-                            <%= Outboxer::Web.time_ago_in_words(message[:queued_at]) %> ago
+                            <%= Outboxer::Web.time_ago_in_words(message[:queued_at]) %>
                         </td>
                     </tr>
                     <tr>
                         <th scope="row">Updated</th>
                         <td title="<%= message[:updated_at].in_time_zone(denormalised_query_params[:time_zone]) %>">
-                            <%= Outboxer::Web.time_ago_in_words(message[:updated_at]) %> ago
+                            <%= Outboxer::Web.time_ago_in_words(message[:updated_at]) %>
                         </td>
                     </tr>
                     <tr>
diff --git a/lib/outboxer/web/views/messages.erb b/lib/outboxer/web/views/messages.erb
index 32581d73..4bfb09f7 100644
--- a/lib/outboxer/web/views/messages.erb
+++ b/lib/outboxer/web/views/messages.erb
@@ -150,10 +150,10 @@
                                         </a>
                                     </td>
                                     <td title="<%= message[:queued_at].in_time_zone(denormalised_query_params[:time_zone]) %>">
-                                        <%= Outboxer::Web.time_ago_in_words(message[:queued_at]) %> ago
+                                        <%= Outboxer::Web.time_ago_in_words(message[:queued_at]) %>
                                     </td>
                                     <td title="<%= message[:updated_at].in_time_zone(denormalised_query_params[:time_zone]) %>">
-                                        <%= Outboxer::Web.time_ago_in_words(message[:updated_at]) %> ago
+                                        <%= Outboxer::Web.time_ago_in_words(message[:updated_at]) %>
                                     </td>
                                     <td>
                                         <% if message[:publisher_exists] %>
diff --git a/lib/outboxer/web/views/publisher.erb b/lib/outboxer/web/views/publisher.erb
index 6ca3d4c4..2f2c5f38 100644
--- a/lib/outboxer/web/views/publisher.erb
+++ b/lib/outboxer/web/views/publisher.erb
@@ -63,13 +63,13 @@
                     <tr>
                         <th scope="row">Created</th>
                         <td title="<%= publisher[:created_at].in_time_zone(denormalised_query_params[:time_zone]) %>">
-                            <%= Outboxer::Web.time_ago_in_words(publisher[:created_at]) %> ago
+                            <%= Outboxer::Web.time_ago_in_words(publisher[:created_at]) %>
                         </td>
                     </tr>
                     <tr>
                         <th scope="row">Updated</th>
                         <td title="<%= publisher[:updated_at].in_time_zone(denormalised_query_params[:time_zone]) %>">
-                            <%= Outboxer::Web.time_ago_in_words(publisher[:updated_at]) %> ago
+                            <%= Outboxer::Web.time_ago_in_words(publisher[:updated_at]) %>
                         </td>
                     </tr>
                 </tbody>
diff --git a/spec/lib/outboxer/message/metrics_by_status_spec.rb b/spec/lib/outboxer/message/metrics_by_status_spec.rb
index f7202475..ae6c78de 100644
--- a/spec/lib/outboxer/message/metrics_by_status_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/lib/outboxer/message/metrics_by_status_spec.rb
@@ -5,8 +5,6 @@ module Outboxer
     describe ".metrics_by_status" do
       let(:current_utc_time) { Time.utc(2025, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0) }
 
-      before { Models::Thread.delete_all }
-
       before do
         create(
           :outboxer_thread,
@@ -15,8 +13,10 @@ module Outboxer
           publishing_message_count: 20,
           published_message_count: 30,
           failed_message_count: 40,
-          created_at: current_utc_time,
-          updated_at: current_utc_time
+          queued_message_count_last_updated_at: current_utc_time,
+          publishing_message_count_last_updated_at: current_utc_time,
+          published_message_count_last_updated_at: current_utc_time,
+          failed_message_count_last_updated_at: current_utc_time
         )
 
         create(
@@ -28,18 +28,22 @@ module Outboxer
           publishing_message_count: 6,
           published_message_count: 7,
           failed_message_count: 8,
-          created_at: current_utc_time,
-          updated_at: current_utc_time
+          queued_message_count_last_updated_at: current_utc_time,
+          publishing_message_count_last_updated_at: current_utc_time,
+          published_message_count_last_updated_at: current_utc_time,
+          failed_message_count_last_updated_at: current_utc_time
         )
       end
 
       it "returns metrics by status" do
-        expect(Message.metrics_by_status).to eq(
-          queued: { count: 15, latency: 0 },
-          publishing: { count: 26, latency: 0 },
-          published: { count: 37, latency: 0 },
-          failed: { count: 48, latency: 0 },
-          total: { count: 126, latency: 0 }
+        result = Message.metrics_by_status(time: double(now: current_utc_time))
+
+        expect(result).to eq(
+          queued: { count: 15, last_update: current_utc_time, latency: 0 },
+          publishing: { count: 26, last_update: current_utc_time, latency: nil },
+          published: { count: 37, last_update: current_utc_time, latency: nil },
+          failed: { count: 48, last_update: current_utc_time, latency: nil },
+          total: { count: 126, last_update: nil, latency: nil }
         )
       end
     end