Aim of this survey
The UK Manufacturers' Sales by Product (PRODCOM) measures sales of products by UK manufacturers.
Products refer to goods and a small number of services, such as repair and maintenance. These services are classified by the Standard Industrial Classification into the manufacturing sector and therefore contribute to the measure of industrial production (or manufacturers' sales) for the UK.
The information supplied feeds into the National Accounts and the Producer Price Index (which is a primary measure of inflation). The statistics have a variety of uses such as policy making and assessing trends.
What you need to know
To complete the survey, you will need the following information:
- value of sales and volumes and other non-production incomes and turnover
- value of manufacturing product sales (which could include activities such as repairs,maintenance,printing or installation for some industries) and product values
- value of merchanted goods, work done, waste products and non-production income
All information you provide is strictly confidential.
Survey information
Selection criteria: UK trading businesses registered for VAT and/or PAYE
Population: approximately 140,300
Sample: approximately 21,500
Frequency: annually
Dispatch dates
- 29 December
Return-by dates
- 31 January
Dispatch and return-by dates are a guide. They are subject to change due to national holidays and weekends.
Why you were selected
Your business has been selected from a directory of businesses in the UK which are registered for VAT and/or PAYE or with Companies House. Your response ensures we represent your industry.
The UK Manufacturers' Sales by Product (PRODCOM) is conducted under the provisions of the Statistics of Trade Act 1947. Once selected, your business is legally obliged to comply. You cannot appeal your selection.
Why you have received this survey
We survey businesses of all sizes to ensure our statistics are representative of the UK economy. We select large businesses (those with 100 plus employees) for any relevant ONS business surveys because their information is so significant.
We select some small and medium businesses, usually for a set period of time then replace them with other businesses from their industry. They are very important to us as their trading patterns are often very different to large businesses.
How to complete this survey
Please complete and return the questionnaire following the guidelines on the front page.
At the moment this survey is not available to complete online. However, we are developing our processes to better support businesses.
Editable PDFs are available for the paper-based questionnaire and can be requested via the request a business survey form.
Alternatively, you can contact the survey team directly. When contacting us, you will need to provide the survey ID code 014 and your 11-digit reference number; this can be found on any communication you have received from us.
We are currently developing a secure online collection platform. You will receive a letter notifying you when you can complete the UK Manufacturers' Sales by Product (PRODCOM) online. We appreciate your patience.
Please note that reminders are issued automatically, so you may receive one if you submit data just before or after the return date.
If you need help
If your question has not been answered, you may be able to find the answer on the About ONS business surveys page.
You can call us on 0300 1231 216. Please enter the three-digit survey ID 014.
From outside the UK: +44 (0)1633 810495.
Er mwyn gwneud cais am ffurflen Gymraeg (to speak to someone in Welsh): 0300 1234 921.