ABS publications and special analysis

Publications

The Annual Business Survey (ABS) publishes financial information from businesses representing about two-thirds of the UK economy. 

The financial variables covered include turnover, purchases, employment costs, capital expenditure and stocks. We are then able to calculate approximate Gross Value Added (aGVA), which is a measure of the income generated by the surveyed businesses (and the industry or sector they represent) less their intermediate consumption of goods and services used up in order to produce their output. This is an input into the measurement of the UK's Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Data from the ABS and its predecessor the Annual Business Inquiry - part 2 (ABI/2) are available going back to 1995.

These variables are published down to 4 digit class level of Standard Industrial Classification (SIC).

Example SIC structure;

> Section C - Manufacturing
>> Division 10 - Manufacture of food products
>>> Group 10.5 - Manufacture of dairy products
>>>> Class 10.51 - Operation of dairy and cheese making
>>>>> Subclass 10.51/1 - Liquid milk and cream production

For a fuller description of SIC see the summary of structure section (from page 27) in the SIC 2007: Structure and explanatory notes (1.29 Mb Pdf) .

We also provide on request (free of charge) standard extracts covering a wider range of variables, down to 5 digit subclass level of SIC. Regional information for 5 main variables is at 3 digit group level. 

To request the standard extracts please contact: abs@ons.gov.uk or telephone +44 (0)1633 456592.

Special analysis

Data not available from the standard extract option above may be available as a user specified 'special analysis'. There is a charge for producing these analyses, which are available going back to 1998. Free quotations are provided on request.

Analyses at the following geographical levels are available, four of which follow the European standard of Nomenclature of Units for Territorial Statistics (NUTS):

• UKGBNI - United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
• NUTS1 - Countries (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) and English Regions (former GORs)
• NUTS2 - Groups of local authorities
• NUTS3 - Groups of local authorities and counties (in England)
• NUTS4 - Unitary authorities & District Councils (in England)

• Westminster Parliamentary Constituencies 

Please note that figures at country and England Regions level are published on the ONS website in July each year.

We can also derive values in terms of foreign ownership and can size-band by registered employment, turnover and by other variables

Special analysis requests

To request an analysis please specify what you require from;

• the lists of available variables and industries (113.5 Kb Excel sheet)
• the list of available geographies (136 Kb Excel sheet)
• the sizebands if required (for example 0-49, 50-249, 250-999, 1,000+ employment)

Email them to abs@ons.gov.uk, or telephone +44 (0)1633 456606. We will send you a detailed quotation as soon as possible. 

However, please be aware that with requests for greater levels of detail involving, for example, combinations of SIC class or subclass with NUTS4 geography and sizebands, the possible suppression of certain data values increases. This is necessary to maintain the confidentiality of the data providers.

Once produced, all special analyses will be available free of charge to other users on request.

Speical analysis pricing guidance

Specially commissioned tables will be issued to the requesting customer under an Open Government Licence, usually via email. In some cases, where the data have been requested by the media, are likely to be of interest to a third party, or are used in public debate, the tables will be made available via a link to a URL on the ONS website. In both cases, the tables will be available free to all other users, and all data sets which have been produced will be listed on the Office for National Statistics publication scheme.

Quotes for commissioned tables are available on application. The pricing structure is shown below. The cost of the commissioned output reflects the amount of time taken to scope and produce the table(s) together with mandatory statistical disclosure checks (pre and post production) and quality assurance. The charges reflect the Full Economic Costs associated with the delivery of the service.

If the customer requires delivery via portable media (CD/DVD) an additional charge of £50 will be made to cover the costs of administration, production and dissemination via secure delivery.

All charges are subject to VAT at the standard rate.

We will deliver the commissioned tables within 40 working days of receiving written acceptance of the quote, except in exceptional circumstances. In most cases, where requests are not complex, tables are delivered within five working days.

Pricing structure – please note that this is indicative only. Actual times and prices will depend on the complexity of the request. The approximate prices below represent the cost per hour at the pay band expected to carry out the work, for the estimated number of hours’ work.

Useful information

Further information on the Freedom of Information policy, publication of ad hoc data sets, how to commission services etc. can be found in the ONS publication scheme. 

ONS charging policy