Business Insights and Conditions Survey questions: 5 October 2026 to 18 October 2026

These questions are for Wave 166 of the fortnightly Business Insights and Conditions Survey (BICS) dispatched on 5 October 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 September 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 November 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 September 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 September 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 September 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 September 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 November 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 November 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 September 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 September 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 September 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 September 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

What are your business's expectations for capital expenditure between October 2026 and December 2026?

• Capital expenditure will increase
• Capital expenditure will stay the same
• Capital expenditure will decrease
• Not sure
• Not applicable

Why is your business expecting to authorise capital expenditure between October 2026 and December 2026?

• For replacements
• To expand capacity
• To increase efficiency
• To provide new services
• To purchase new technology
• To reach new customers
• Other (Please describe)
• Not sure
• Not applicable

Which of the following, if any, do you expect to limit your business's capital expenditure between October 2026 and December 2026?

• Inability to raise external finance
• Inadequate return on proposed investment
• Shortage of internal finance
• Shortage of labour
• Uncertainty about demand or business prospects
• Other (Please describe)
• Not sure
• Not expecting any limits to capital expenditure

Did your business invest in plant and machinery between July 2026 and September 2026?

• Yes
• No
• Not sure

Did your business use the full expensing capital allowance on qualifying plant and machinery investments between July 2026 and September 2026?

• Yes
• No
• Not sure

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

• Yes 
• No 
• Not sure
• Not applicable

Which of the following, if any, will be the main concern for your business in November 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 September 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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