1. Survey information
These questions are for Wave 118 of the fortnightly Business Insights and Conditions Survey (BICS) dispatched on 7 October 2024.
Back to table of contents2. Trading Status of Your Business
Which of the following statements best describes your business's trading status?
Currently fully trading
Currently partially trading
Paused trading but intends to restart in the next two weeks
Paused trading and does not intend to restart in the next two weeks
Permanently ceased trading
3. Turnover
How did your business's turnover in September 2024 compare with the previous calendar month?
Turnover increased
Turnover stayed the same
Turnover decreased
Not sure
Which of the following challenges, if any, are currently impacting your business's turnover?
Competition
Cost of labour
Cost of materials
Economic uncertainty
Financial costs
Insufficient domestic demand
Insufficient international demand
Lack of equipment
Shortage of labour
Shortage of materials
Weather conditions
Other
Not sure
Not currently experiencing any challenges
What are your business's expectations for turnover in November 2024?
Expect turnover to increase
Expect turnover to stay the same
Expect turnover to decrease
Not sure
How did your business's domestic demand for goods and services in September 2024 compare with the previous calendar month?
Demand increased
Demand stayed the same
Demand decreased
Not sure
Not applicable
How did your business's international demand for goods and services in September 2024 compare with the previous calendar month?
Demand increased
Demand stayed the same
Demand decreased
Not sure
Not applicable
4. Prices
How did the prices of goods or services bought by your business in September 2024 compare with the previous calendar month?
Prices increased
Prices stayed the same
Prices decreased
Not sure
Not applicable
How did the prices of goods or services sold by your business in September 2024 compare with the previous calendar month?
Prices increased
Prices stayed the same
Prices decreased
Not sure
Not applicable
What are your business's expectations for the prices of goods or services sold in November 2024?
Prices will increase
Prices will stay the same
Prices will decrease
Not sure
Not applicable
Which of the following factors, if any, are causing your business to consider raising prices in November 2024?
Energy prices
Finance costs
Labour costs
Raw material prices
Transportation or haulage costs
Other
Not sure
Business is not considering raising prices
5. Capital expenditure
What are your business's expectations for capital expenditure between October and December 2024?
Capital expenditure will increase
Capital expenditure will stay the same
Capital expenditure will decrease
Not sure
Not applicable
Why is your business expecting to authorise capital expenditure between October and December 2024?
For replacements
To expand capacity
To increase efficiency
To provide new services
To reach new customers
To purchase new technology
Other
Not sure
Not applicable
Which of the following, if any, do you expect to limit your business's capital expenditure between October and December 2024?
Inability to raise external finance
Inadequate return on proposed investment
Shortage of internal finance
Shortage of labour
Uncertainty about demand or business prospects
Other
Not sure
Not expecting any limits to capital expenditure
Did your business invest in plant and machinery between July and September 2024?
Yes
No
Not sure
Did your business use the full expensing capital allowance on qualifying plant and machinery investments between July and September 2024?
Yes
No
Not sure
6. Stock
Is your business stockpiling any goods or materials?
Yes
No
Not sure
How did your business's stock levels of raw materials in September 2024 compare with the previous calendar month?
Stock levels were higher
Stock levels stayed the same
Stock levels were lower
Not sure
Not applicable
How did your business's stock levels of finished goods in September 2024 compare with the previous calendar month?
Stock levels were higher
Stock levels stayed the same
Stock levels were lower
Not sure
Not applicable
7. Supply chains
Was your business able to get the materials, goods or services it needed from within the UK in September 2024?
Yes, the business was able to get the materials, goods or services it needed
Yes, but the business had to change suppliers or find alternative solutions
No, the business was not able to get the materials, goods or services needed
Not applicable
Did your business experience any global supply chain disruption in September 2024?
Yes
No
Not sure
Not applicable
What was the main reason for global supply chain disruption?
Conflict in Ukraine
Conflict in the Middle East
Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic
Increased costs
Severe weather or climate event
Shortage of hauliers and carriers
Shortage of materials
UK exiting the EU
Other transportation issues
Other
Not sure
8. Trade
Did your business export or import any goods or services in September 2024?
Both exported and imported
Exported only
Imported only
Business did not export or import
Not sure
Did your business experience an increase in any of the following exporting challenges in September 2024, compared with the previous calendar month?
Additional paperwork
Change in exchange rates
Change in transportation costs
Customs duties or levies
Destination countries changing their border restrictions
Disruption at UK borders
Difficulty finding information on how to export
Lack of hauliers to transport goods or lack of logistics equipment
Reduced demand for products and services
Time taken for checks at the border
Work permit or visa restrictions, or lack of mutual recognition of professional qualifications
Other
Did not experience an increase in any exporting challenges
Did your business experience an increase in any of the following importing challenges in September 2024, compared with the previous calendar month?
Additional paperwork
Change in exchange rates
Change in transportation costs
Customs duties or levies
Disruption at UK borders
Difficulty finding information on how to import
Lack of hauliers to transport goods or lack of logistics equipment
Suppliers not customs ready
Time taken for checks at the border
Other
Did not experience an increase in any importing challenges
9. Workforce trends
What are your business's expectations for the number of employees in November 2024?
Number of employees will increase
Number of employees will stay the same
Number of employees will decrease
Not sure
Is your business currently experiencing a shortage of workers?
Yes
No
Not sure
Not applicable
Did your business experience any difficulties recruiting employees in September 2024?
Yes
No
Not sure
Not applicable
10. Business operations
Which of the following, if any, will be the main concern for your business in November 2024?
Business rates
Competition with other UK businesses
Energy prices
Exchange rates
Falling demand of goods and services
Inflation of goods and services prices
Interest rates
Property rental costs
Supply chain disruption
Taxation
Other
Not sure
No concerns for the business
How would you describe your business's overall performance in September 2024, compared with the same calendar month last year?
Performance increased
Performance stayed the same
Performance decreased
Not sure
How do you expect your business's overall performance to change over the next 12 months?
Performance will increase
Performance will stay the same
Performance will decrease
Not sure
11. Comments
Please tell us anything else about your business's current situation relating to topics covered in this survey
- Comments
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