Quarterly Economic Survey Results

Thursday 1st October 2020

BCC Quarterly Economic Survey Q3 2020: Nearly Half Of Firms Report UK Sales Decrease As Businesses Endure Sustained Cash Crunch    

 

The British Chambers of Commerce’s Quarterly Economic Survey (QES) found that business conditions remained weak in the third quarter of 2020, despite much of the economy reopening. 

  

The bellwether survey of 6,410 firms, employing over 580,000 people across the UK, revealed that, while key indicators have improved from historic lows in Q2, they remain significantly lower than before the pandemic struck. Business to consumer firms, including hospitality, fared worst. 

 

 

 

 

Wednesday 1st July 2020

 

BCC Quarterly Economic Survey Q2 2020: Chancellor must set our roadmap to recovery as UK economy endures historic setback

 

• Eleven of the 14 key service sector QES indicators fall to their lowest level in the survey’s 31-year history 
• The percentage balance of firms reporting increased domestic and export sales is now substantially lower than the worst quarter of the 2008-09 recession  
• Indicators for longer-term business performance drop to record lows as BCC sets out measures needed to begin UK’s economic recovery 

 

 

 

Thursday 3rd January 2020

 

BCC Quarterly Economic Survey Q4 2019: UK economy stagnating as service sector slows

 

• Service sector indicators worsen and remain well below their historic average
• Indicators for manufacturing and export orders are negative for two consecutive quarters for the first time in around a decade 
• Manufacturers planning to invest in plant and machinery at eight-year low   

 

 

 

Friday 4th October 2019

 

BCC Quarterly Economic Survey Q3 2019: Economic conditions weaken as manufacturing slump continues

 

The British Chambers of Commerce’s Quarterly Economic Survey – now in its thirtieth year as the largest UK private sector survey of business sentiment and a leading indicator of UK GDP growth– found that UK economic conditions weakened in the third quarter amid a significant deterioration in manufacturing sector activity.

 

• The balance of manufacturers reporting increased export orders lowest in a decade and domestic sales lowest since 2011.
• The balance of manufacturers reporting improved cashflow drops to eight-year low.

 

 

  

Monday 1st July 2019

 

BCC Quarterly Economic Survey Q2 2019: UK growth stalling amid manufacturing slowdown.

 

The British Chambers of Commerce’s Quarterly Economic Survey – the largest private sector survey of business sentiment and a leading indicator of UK GDP growth, closely watched by policymakers including the Bank of England – finds that underlying economic conditions remained stagnant in the second quarter of 2019.

 

• The balance of manufacturing firms reporting improved domestic orders at 7-year low
• Modest pick-up in service sector activity in Q2 insufficient to offset significant drops in Q1
• Price pressures for services firms and manufacturers fall to their lowest level since 2016