1. Survey information
These questions are for Wave 89 of the fortnightly Business Insights and Conditions Survey (BICS) dispatched on 7 August 2023.
Nôl i'r tabl cynnwys2. 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 July 2023 compare with the previous calendar month?
Turnover increased
Turnover stayed the same
Turnover decreased
Not sure
What are your business's expectations for turnover in September 2023?
Expect turnover to increase
Expect turnover to stay the same
Expect turnover to decrease
Not sure
4. Prices
How did the prices of goods or services bought by your business in July 2023 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 July 2023 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 September 2023?
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 September 2023?
Energy prices
Finance costs
Labour costs
Raw material prices
Other (Please describe)
Not sure
Business is not considering raising prices
How did your business's domestic demand for goods and services in July 2023 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 July 2023 compare with the previous calendar month?
Demand increased
Demand stayed the same
Demand decreased
Not sure
Not applicable
Has your business been affected by recent increases in energy prices?
Yes, production has been affected
Yes, suppliers have been affected
Yes, both production and suppliers have been affected
No, the business has not been affected
Not sure
Not applicable
In which of the following ways, if any, has your business been affected by price rises?
Discontinued lines of sale
Had to absorb costs
Had to access more financial support
Had to change suppliers
Had to make redundancies
Had to pass on price increases to customers
Had to reduce staff work hours
Unable to maintain workspaces
Other (Please describe)
Not sure
Business has not been affected by price rises
5. Stock levels
How did your business's stock levels of raw materials in July 2023 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 July 2023 compare with the previous calendar month?
Stock levels were higher
Stock levels stayed the same
Stock levels were lower
Not sure
Not applicable
Is your business stockpiling any goods or materials?
Yes
No
Not sure
Where is your business sourcing these stockpiled goods or materials from?
UK suppliers
EU suppliers
Non-EU suppliers
Not sure
Which of the following goods or materials is your business stockpiling?
Agricultural products
Chemicals
Coal, gas or oil
Food and beverages
Manufacturing parts
Materials
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Pharmaceuticals
Other consumer goods
Other (Please describe)
Not sure
Where are the stockpiled goods or materials being stored?
UK
EU countries
Non-EU countries
Not sure
6. Workforce trends
In July 2023, approximately what percentage of your business's workforce were:
Working from a designated workspace
Working from home
Using a hybrid model of working
Not working due to sickness
Made permanently redundant
Other
How did the number of employees at your business in July 2023 compare with the previous calendar month?
Number of employees increased
Number of employees stayed the same
Number of employees decreased
Not sure
What are your business's expectations for the number of employees in September 2023?
Number of employees will increase
Number of employees will stay the same
Number of employees will decrease
Not sure
Did your business experience any difficulties recruiting employees in July 2023?
Yes
No
Not sure
Not applicable
7. Workforce characteristics
How has the number of workers from within the EU at your business in July 2023 changed compared with this calendar month last year?
Number of workers from within the EU has increased
The business employs workers from within the EU, and the number has stayed the same
Number of workers from within the EU has decreased
Not relevant, as have not employed workers from within the EU
Not sure
Prefer not to say
How has the number of workers from outside the EU at your business in July 2023 changed compared with this calendar month last year?
Number of workers from outside the EU has increased
The business employs workers from outside the EU, and the number has stayed the same
Number of workers from outside the EU has decreased
Not relevant, as have not employed workers from outside the EU
Not sure
Prefer not to say
8. Environmental action
Is your business concerned about the impact climate change may have on the business?
Yes, very concerned
Yes, somewhat concerned
No, not concerned
Not sure
Which of the following actions, if any, has your business taken to protect the environment?
Publishes an annual sustainability report
Has a climate change strategy
Has a net zero or greenhouse gas emissions target
Has a net zero or greenhouse gas emissions target which includes supply chain
Monitors climate-related risks
Has a nature or biodiversity strategy
Has a nature or biodiversity target
Has a nature or biodiversity target which includes supply chain
Monitors nature or biodiversity-related risks
Other (Please describe)
Not sure
None of the above
Which of the following actions, if any, have you taken to reduce your business's carbon emissions?
Adjusting heating and cooling systems
Electrifying your vehicle fleet
Installing a smart meter
Installing charging points
Installing your own renewable electricity or heating
Insulating your buildings
Introducing a cycle to work scheme
Switching to LED bulbs
Other (Please describe)
Not sure
No actions have been taken to reduce emissions
9. Business confidence
In July 2023, how did your business's debt repayments compare with turnover?
Repayments were more than 100% of turnover
Repayments were between 50% and 100% of turnover
Repayments were between 20% and 50% of turnover
Repayments were up to 20% of turnover
Not sure
Not applicable
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
Do not have any debt obligations
What is your business's risk of insolvency?
Severe risk
Moderate risk
Low risk
No risk
Not sure
The business is insolvent
How would you describe your business's overall performance in July 2023, compared with this 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
10. Comments
Please tell us anything else about your business's current situation relating to topics covered in this survey: