Non-financial business economy, UK and regional (Annual Business Survey): 2019 results

• In 2019, approximate gross value added at basic prices (aGVA) of the UK non-financial business economy was estimated to be £1,313.9 billion; an increase of £42.8 billion (3.4%) compared with 2018.

• The non-financial services sector, which accounted for over half (56.7%) of total aGVA in 2019, increased by £25 billion (3.5%) to £744.4 billion; transport and storage saw the highest increase in aGVA growth at £7.2 billion (8.6%) increasing from £84.4 billion to £91.6 billion.

• Total turnover and purchases of the UK non-financial business economy were estimated to be £4,101.5 billion and £2,761.4 billion respectively; an increase of £70.5 billion (1.7%) and £25.8 billion (0.9%) compared with 2018.

• Out of the 12 UK regions, 8 regions experienced growth in aGVA; the South East experienced the largest increase in aGVA of £17.3 billion to £214.4 billion, which was an increase of 8.8% in 2019.

• West Midlands, Yorkshire and The Humber, Scotland and East Midlands, were the four regions decreasing year-on-year in aGVA; the largest percentage decrease was in West Midlands where aGVA fell by £2.5 billion (2.6%), from £94.5 billion to £92 billion.

Coronavirus (COVID-19)

In 2019, 53% of sampled businesses were included in the final Annual Business Survey (ABS) results. The average response rate in previous years was approximately 75%. The 2019 rate was lower than usual because the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic made it more difficult to contact respondents in order to process survey returns. This means that the estimates in this release are subject to more uncertainty than usual. Quality measures for the ABS results are available as part of this release.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has released a public statement on coronavirus and the production of statistics. Email specific queries to the Media Relations Office at: media.relations@ons.gov.uk.

Data sources and collection

The ABS is a sample survey of approximately 73,000 businesses across the United Kingdom (UK). The ABS draws its sample from the Inter-Departmental Business Register (IDBR).

Quality and methodology

More quality and methodology information on strengths, limitations, appropriate uses, and how the data were created is available in the Annual Business Survey (ABS) Quality and Methodology Information report and ABS Technical Report published on the ABS methodology page.

Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR) publishing review

The Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR) is undertaking a review into whether the 9:30am release time stated in the Code of Practice for Statistics meets the needs of users. During the pandemic, exemptions were granted to allow the release of market sensitive statistics at 7am. The OSR welcomes views about the release time of official statistics by Friday 25 June 2021, please send comments to: regulation@statistics.gov.uk.