Services turnover in the UK: 2021

• Total turnover generated by UK services industries increased by £478.1 billion (19.0%) from £2,511.0 billion in 2020 to £2,989.1 billion in 2021.

• The wholesale and retail trade sector, including the repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles, generated the most turnover in 2021 at £1,408.9 billion, an increase of £266.0 billion (23.3%) since 2020.

• Turnover generated by businesses outside their main industrial classification (referred to as off-diagonal turnover), was estimated at £454.2 billion in 2021, representing 15.2% of total turnover (£2,989.1 billion), compared with 15.8% in 2020.

• The largest proportional increase in turnover by service type was from the creative, arts and entertainment industries, which showed an increase of 126.2% between 2020 and 2021.

• Total production (manufacturing) turnover generated by businesses within UK services industries was estimated at £71.6 billion in 2021 compared with £61.8 billion in 2020.

The Annual Survey of Goods and Services (ASGS) estimates are based on a sample of approximately 40,000 businesses, covering 51 service industries.

ASGS data are produced in compliance with the Code of Practice for Statistics. Further information on this is detailed in the ASGS technical report, which describes the methods used to safeguard the information provided in confidence to us.

The ASGS collects turnover data primarily at the six-digit level as outlined in the Statistical Classification of Products by Activity (CPA code) referred to in this release as service products.  Exceptions to this are the wholesale industry, which is collected at three-digit level, and the retail trade and waste collection, treatment and disposal activities industries, which are collected at five-digit level.

CPA products that are industry-specific are referred to as "on-diagonal"; these are products assumed most closely related to the business' main activities, based on businesses' industrial classification. In contrast, products that are outside a business' main industrial classification are referred to as "off-diagonal" products.

Quality and methodology

More quality and methodology information is available in our Annual Survey of Goods and Services QMI.