1. Survey information
These questions are for Wave 107 of the fortnightly Business Insights and Conditions Survey (BICS) dispatched on 15 April 2024. These are the most up-to-date survey questions.
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. Exporting
Has your business exported goods or services in the last 12 months?
Exported goods only
Exported services only
Exported both goods and services
Business has not exported goods or services in the last 12 months
Not sure
Where has your business exported goods or services to in the last three months?
EU only
Non-EU only
Both EU and non-EU
Not exported in the last three months
Not sure
Has your business had any extra costs directly related to changes in export regulations due to the end of the EU transition period?
Costs increased but are now stable
Costs increased and are still increasing
Costs were stable but are now increasing
No cost increases experienced at any point
Not sure
How did your business's exporting in March 2024 compare with this calendar month last year?
Exported more
Exporting stayed the same
Exported less
Business was unable to export
Not sure
How did your business's cost of exporting in March 2024 compare with this calendar month last year?
Cost increased
Cost stayed the same
Cost decreased
Not sure
How did the time spent on exporting in March 2024 compare with this calendar month last year?
Time spent increased
Time spent stayed the same
Time spent decreased
Not sure
Which of the following support options has your business benefitted from, to help with exporting challenges?
Customs and tariffs
Export licences
Financial support
Finding new markets
Finding new overseas contacts or customers
Information on exporting
Legal support
Transport and distribution
Understanding markets and demand issues
Other (Please describe)
None of the above
Does your business currently meet the rules of origin to access preferential tariffs on exports?
All exports meet the rules of origin to access preferential tariffs
Some exports meet the rules of origin to access preferential tariffs
Exports do not meet the rules of origin to access preferential tariffs
Not sure
Not applicable
Why does your business not currently meet the rules of origin to access preferential tariffs on exports?
Exports cannot meet rules of origin requirements
Administrative costs of rules of origin are too high or burdensome
Lack of knowledge
Lack of understanding, staffing or expertise
Other (Please describe)
Not sure
Not applicable
4. Importing
Has your business imported goods or services in the last 12 months?
Imported goods only
Imported services only
Imported both goods and services
Business has not imported goods or services in the last 12 months
Not sure
Where has your business imported goods or services from in the last three months?
EU only
Non-EU only
Both EU and non-EU
Not imported in the last three months
Not sure
Has your business had any extra costs directly related to changes in import regulations due to the end of the EU transition period?
Costs increased but are now stable
Costs increased and are still increasing
Costs were stable but are now increasing
No cost increases experienced at any point
Not sure
How did your business's importing in March 2024 compare with this calendar month last year?
Imported more
Importing stayed the same
Imported less
Business was unable to import
Not sure
How did your business's cost of importing in March 2024 compare with this calendar month last year?
Cost increased
Cost stayed the same
Cost decreased
Not sure
How did the time spent on importing in March 2024 compare with this calendar month last year?
Time spent increased
Time spent stayed the same
Time spent decreased
Not sure
Which of the following support options would your business benefit from, to help with importing challenges?
Customs and tariffs
Finding new alternative supply chains
Finding new overseas contacts or customers
Import licences
Information on importing
Legal support
Transport and distribution
Understanding markets and demand issues
Other (Please describe)
None of the above
5. UK Conformity Assessed (UKCA) marking
Does your business manufacture, import or distribute products that require either a CE marking or a UKCA marking?
Yes, we manufacture products that need a CE or UKCA marking
Yes, we import products that need a CE or UKCA marking
Yes, we distribute products that need a CE or UKCA marking
Not sure
No, we do not manufacture, import or distribute products that need a CE or UKCA marking
To what extent is your business currently using UKCA marking for its products that require either a CE or a UKCA marking?
Not using UKCA marking
Using UKCA marking for a minority of products
Using UKCA marking for a majority of products, but not all
Using UKCA marking for all products
Not sure
To what extent is your business planning to use UKCA marking in April 2025 for its products that require either a CE or a UKCA marking?
Do not plan to use UKCA marking in this calendar month next year
Plan to use UKCA marking for a minority of products in this calendar month next year
Plan to use UKCA marking for a majority of products, but not all, in this calendar month next year
Plan to use UKCA marking for all products in this calendar month next year
Not sure
6. Domestic trade
In the last 12 months, has your business purchased goods or services from suppliers in other UK nations?
Yes
No
Not sure
In the last 12 months, which of the following goods or services has your business purchased from suppliers in other UK nations?
Casual labour
Financial services
Finished goods
Professional services
Semi-finished or intermediate goods
Raw materials
Other (Please describe)
Not sure
In the last 12 months, has your business sold goods or services to customers in other UK nations?
Yes
No
Not sure
In the last 12 months, which of the following challenges, if any, has your business experienced when selling goods or services to customers in other UK nations?
Challenges related to the Northern Ireland Protocol
Differences in rules or regulations
Lack of demand
Supply chain disruption
Transport capacity
Transport costs
Other (Please describe)
Not sure
Business did not experience any challenges
Has your business sent goods from GB to Northern Ireland in the last 12 months?
Yes
No
Not sure
In March 2024, how did the volume of goods your business sent from GB to Northern Ireland compare with the previous calendar month?
Volume increased
Volume stayed the same
Volume decreased
Stopped sending goods to Northern Ireland
Not sure
Not applicable
Please give more details about why the volume of goods sent from GB to Northern Ireland changed in March 2024
- Comments
Has your business sent goods from Northern Ireland to GB in the last 12 months?
Yes
No
Not sure
In March 2024, how did the volume of goods your business sent from Northern Ireland to GB compare with the previous calendar month?
Volume increased
Volume stayed the same
Volume decreased
Stopped sending goods to GB
Not sure
Not applicable
Please give more details about why the volume of goods sent from Northern Ireland to GB changed in March 2024
- Comments
7. International trade
Was your business able to get the materials, goods or services it needed from the EU in March 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
Does your business intend to open any new branches or subsidiaries in the EU in the next 12 months?
Yes
No
Not sure
8. Comments
Please tell us anything else about your business's current situation relating to topics covered in this survey
- Comments
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