Business Insights and Conditions Survey questions: 7 September 2026 to 20 September 2026

These questions are for Wave 164 of the fortnightly Business Insights and Conditions Survey (BICS) dispatched on 7 September 2026.

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

How did your business's turnover in August 2026 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 (Please describe) 

• Not sure  

• Not currently experiencing any challenges 

What are your business's expectations for turnover in October 2026?  

• 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 August 2026 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 August 2026 compare with the previous calendar month? 

• Demand increased  

• Demand stayed the same  

• Demand decreased  

• Not sure  

• Not applicable

How did the prices of goods or services bought by your business in August 2026 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 August 2026 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 October 2026?  

• 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 October 2026?  

• Energy prices  

• Finance costs  

• Labour costs  

• Raw material prices  

• Transportation or haulage costs  

• Other (Please describe) 

• Not sure  

• Business is not considering raising prices

Is your business stockpiling any goods or materials? 

• Yes 

• No 

• Not sure  

How did your business's stock levels of raw materials in August 2026 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 August 2026 compare with the previous calendar month? 

• Stock levels were higher 

• Stock levels stayed the same 

• Stock levels were lower 

• Not sure 

• Not applicable

Was your business able to get the materials, goods or services it needed from within the UK in August 2026?  

• 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 August 2026?  

• Yes  

• No  

• Not sure  

• Not applicable 

What was the main reason for global supply chain disruption? 

• Conflict in Ukraine  

• Conflict in the Middle East 

• Increased costs  

• Severe weather or climate event 

• Shortage of hauliers and carriers 

• Shortage of materials  

• UK exiting the EU 

• United States tariffs  

• Other transportation issues  

• Other (Please describe) 

• Not sure

How concerned is your business about energy prices? 

• Very concerned 

• Somewhat concerned 

• Not concerned 

• Not sure 

How concerned is your business about increases in fuel prices? 

• Very concerned 

• Somewhat concerned 

• Not concerned 

• Not sure

Did your business export or import any goods or services in August 2026? 

• Both exported and imported  

• Exported only  

• Imported only  

• Business did not export or import  

• Not sure

What are your business's expectations for the number of employees in October 2026?  

• 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 August 2026?  

• Yes  

• No  

• Not sure  

• Not applicable

Which of the following, if any, will be the main concern for your business in October 2026?  

• 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 

• Worker shortages 

• Other (Please describe) 

• Not sure  

• No concerns for the business 

How would you describe your business's overall performance in August 2026, 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  

How long do you expect business's cash reserves will last? 

• Less than one month 

• One to three months 

• Four to six months 

• More than six months 

• Not sure 

• Business has no cash reserves 

What is your business's risk of insolvency? 

• Severe risk 

• Moderate risk 

• Low risk 

• No risk 

• Not sure 

• The business is insolvent 

How much confidence does your business have that it will meet its current debt obligations? 

• High confidence 

• Moderate confidence 

• Low confidence 

• No confidence 

• Not sure 

• Business does not have any debt obligations

Please tell us anything else about your business's current situation relating to topics covered in this survey

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