1. Survey information

These questions are for Wave 89 of the fortnightly Business Insights and Conditions Survey (BICS) dispatched on 7 August 2023.

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2. 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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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10. Comments

Please tell us anything else about your business's current situation relating to topics covered in this survey:

  • Comments
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Contact details for this Article

Gemma Rabaiotti
bics@ons.gov.uk
Telephone: +44 1633 455 592