Remains to help people with their figures (5)
I believe the answer is:
stays
'remains' is the definition.
(to stay in a place is to remain there)
I cannot understand how the rest of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for stays that I've seen before include "Settles" , "Boards, lodges" , "Remains (in place)" , "Remains; corset" , "Remains; support wires" .)