UK non-financial business economy
Source: data.gov.uk (2017-07-21)

Size and growth within the UK non-financial sectors as measured by the Annual Business Survey.

Cookies on ons.gov.uk

Cookies are small files stored on your device when you visit a website. We use some essential cookies to make this website work.

We would like to set additional cookies (/cookies) to remember your settings and understand how you use the site. This helps us to improve our services.

Accept additional cookies

Reject additional cookies

Manage settings (/cookies)

You have accepted all additional cookies. You have rejected all additional cookies. You can change your cookie preferences (/cookies) at any time. Hide

/businessindustryandtrade/business/businessservices/bulletins/uknonfinancialbusinesseconomy/2014revisedresultsannualbusinesssurvey

(/)

English (EN) | Cymraeg (CY) ( //cy.ons.gov.uk/businessindustryandtrade/business/businessservices/bulletins/uknonfinancialbusinesseconomy/2014revisedresultsannualbusinesssurvey )
- Release calendar (/releasecalendar)
- Methodology (/methodology)
- Media (/news)
- About (/aboutus)
- Blog (https://blog.ons.gov.uk/)
- Menu (#nav-primary)
- Search (#nav-search)
- Home (/)
- Business (/businessindustryandtrade/business)
- Changes to business (/businessindustryandtrade/changestobusiness)
- Construction industry (/businessindustryandtrade/constructionindustry)
- IT and internet industry (/businessindustryandtrade/itandinternetindustry)
- International trade (/businessindustryandtrade/internationaltrade)
- Manufacturing and production industry (/businessindustryandtrade/manufacturingandproductionindustry)
- Retail industry (/businessindustryandtrade/retailindustry)
- Tourism industry (/businessindustryandtrade/tourismindustry)
- Economic output and productivity (/economy/economicoutputandproductivity)
- Environmental accounts (/economy/environmentalaccounts)
- Government, public sector and taxes (/economy/governmentpublicsectorandtaxes)
- Gross Domestic Product (GDP) (/economy/grossdomesticproductgdp)
- Gross Value Added (GVA) (/economy/grossvalueaddedgva)
- Inflation and price indices (/economy/inflationandpriceindices)
- Investments, pensions and trusts (/economy/investmentspensionsandtrusts)
- National accounts (/economy/nationalaccounts)
- Regional accounts (/economy/regionalaccounts)
- People in work (/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork)
- People not in work (/employmentandlabourmarket/peoplenotinwork)
- Armed forces community (/peoplepopulationandcommunity/armedforcescommunity)
- Births, deaths and marriages (/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages)
- Crime and justice (/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice)
- Cultural identity (/peoplepopulationandcommunity/culturalidentity)
- Education and childcare (/peoplepopulationandcommunity/educationandchildcare)
- Elections (/peoplepopulationandcommunity/elections)
- Health and social care (/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare)
- Household characteristics (/peoplepopulationandcommunity/householdcharacteristics)
- Housing (/peoplepopulationandcommunity/housing)
- Leisure and tourism (/peoplepopulationandcommunity/leisureandtourism)
- Measuring progress, well-being and beyond GDP (/peoplepopulationandcommunity/wellbeing)
- Personal and household finances (/peoplepopulationandcommunity/personalandhouseholdfinances)
- Population and migration (/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration)
- Taking part in a survey? (/surveys)
- English (EN) | Cymraeg (CY) ( //cy.ons.gov.uk/businessindustryandtrade/business/businessservices/bulletins/uknonfinancialbusinesseconomy/2014revisedresultsannualbusinesssurvey )
Search for a keyword(s) or time series ID Search

(/census)Data and analysis from Census 2021 (/census)
- Home (/)
- Business, industry and trade (/businessindustryandtrade)
- Business (/businessindustryandtrade/business)
- Business services (/businessindustryandtrade/business/businessservices)
- Non-financial business economy, UK (Annual Business Survey)
Non-financial business economy, UK (Annual Business Survey): 2014 revised results

Size and growth within the UK's non-financial business sectors: non-financial services, distribution, production, construction and agriculture.

This is not the latest release. View latest release (/businessindustryandtrade/business/businessservices/bulletins/uknonfinancialbusinesseconomy/2017provisionalresults)

Corrections and notices

Corrections

29 June 2016 15:48

A correction has been made in section 10. Revisions to 2014 and 2013 Annual Business Survey Data to the size of the revision to Construction sector approximate gross value added (aGVA) between the provisional release in November and this revised release, as shown in Figure 22. This was due to a minor error during the quality assurance process and did not affect the actual estimates published for the construction sector for both 2013 and 2014. The data published in the revisions and changes dataset was also unaffected. You can see the original data here. We apologise for any inconvenience.

Notices

20 June 2016

Since the publication of this bulletin on 9th June we have reviewed the charts and decided to reformat Figures 3, 8, 13, 14, 18 and 21 to better align with the supporting text. Other charts have improved footnotes to help understanding. None of the data published on 9 June has been changed.

ONS apologises for any inconvenience caused.

(https://uksa.statisticsauthority.gov.uk/about-the-authority/uk-statistical-system/types-of-official-statistics/)

Contact: Email Jon Gough (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx)

Release date: 9 June 2016

Next release: 21 July 2016

Table of contents
- Main points (#main-points)
- Overview (#overview)
- Your views matter (#your-views-matter)
- UK non-financial business economy, Sections A to S (part) (#uk-non-financial-business-economy-sections-a-to-s-part-)
- Non-financial services, Sections H to S (part) (#non-financial-services-sections-h-to-s-part-)
- Production, Sections B to E (#production-sections-b-to-e)
- Distribution, Section G (#distribution-section-g)
- Construction, Section F (#construction-section-f)
- Agriculture (part), Forestry and Fishing, Section A (#agriculture-part-forestry-and-fishing-section-a)
- Revisions to 2014 and 2013 Annual Business Survey data (#revisions-to-2014-and-2013-annual-business-survey-data)
- European comparison (#european-comparison)
- Background notes (#background-notes)
- Methodology (#methodology)
Print this Statistical bulletin

Download as PDF (/businessindustryandtrade/business/businessservices/bulletins/uknonfinancialbusinesseconomy/2014revisedresultsannualbusinesssurvey/pdf)

View all data used in this Statistical bulletin (/businessindustryandtrade/business/businessservices/bulletins/uknonfinancialbusinesseconomy/2014revisedresultsannualbusinesssurvey/relateddata)

1. Main points

In 2014, the approximate gross value added at basic prices (aGVA) of the UK non-financial business economy was estimated to be £1,093.4 billion. This amount represents the income of UK businesses, less the cost of goods and services consumed in its creation.

Between 2013 and 2014, aGVA increased by 8.8% (£88.4 billion), the largest increase since 1997 and a continuation of the recovery seen between 2009 and 2013. This was due to an increase in turnover combined with a small decrease in purchases. The decrease in purchases was mostly seen within the Wholesale division.

With the exception of the Production sector, all other sectors of the UK non-financial business economy saw growth in aGVA between 2013 and 2014.

The Production sector, which accounts for just under a fifth (19.7%) of aGVA in the UK non-financial business economy, saw a decrease in aGVA of 1.1% (£2.5 billion) between 2013 and 2014, due to the Mining and quarrying section. All the other sections within Production showed growth in aGVA.

Mining and quarrying turnover decreased by a greater amount than its purchases due to the fall in oil prices during 2014. This resulted in a fall of 26.3% (£5.8 billion) in its aGVA between 2013 and 2014 and was the reason for the fall in Production sector aGVA.

The Non-financial services sector, which accounts for over half (55.1%) of aGVA in the UK non-financial business economy, contributed most to the increase in aGVA. The sector’s increase of 9.5% (£52.3 billion) between 2013 and 2014 was the fifth consecutive annual increase. The section making the largest contribution to growth was Professional, scientific and technical activities, with a 10.5% (£13.6 billion) increase.

The Distribution sector, which accounts for 17.2% of aGVA in the UK non-financial business economy, saw an increase in aGVA of 19.6% (£30.8 billion) between 2013 and 2014. This took aGVA to 19.2% (£30.4 billion) above the level seen in 2008 for the first time. The division making the largest contribution to growth was Wholesale.

The Construction sector, which accounts for 7.8% of aGVA in the UK non-financial business economy, saw an increase in aGVA of 9.9% (£7.7 billion) between 2013 and 2014. This is the fourth consecutive year of growth, taking the sector above the level seen in 2008 for the first time, by 0.6% (£0.5 billion).

These estimates show small revisions for the UK non-financial business economy compared with the previous estimate published on 12 November 2015. There were downward revisions of 0.8% (£29.1 billion) in turnover, 0.8% (£19.5 billion) in purchases and 1.0% (£11.2 billion) in aGVA. aGVA for 2013 was also revised up by 0.4% (£3.9 billion).

2. Overview

Estimates of the size and growth of the UK Non-financial business economy for 2014 as measured by the Annual Business Survey (ABS) are presented in this release. It is the main resource for understanding the detailed structure, conduct and performance of businesses across the UK. These figures are revised from those published as part of the November 2015 release (http://www.ons.gov.uk/businessindustryandtrade/business/businessservices/bulletins/uknonfinancialbusinesseconomy/2014provisionalresults) as more data has become available. Revisions are an inevitable consequence of the trade-off between timeliness and accuracy. The release covers the following sectors:

Non-financial services (includes professional, scientific, communication, administrative, transport, accommodation and food, private health and education, entertainment services)

Distribution (includes retail, wholesale and motor trades)

Production (includes manufacturing, oil and gas extraction, energy generation and supply, water and waste management)

Construction (includes civil engineering, house building, property development and specialised construction trades such as plumbers, electricians and plasterers)

part of Agriculture (includes agricultural support services and hunting), forestry and fishing

Together these industries represent the UK Non-financial business economy and account for around two-thirds of the whole economy of the UK in terms of gross value added. Public administration and defence, public sector health and education, finance, farming and households make up the rest of the whole UK economy and are not covered by this release.

Estimates published in this release include turnover, purchases, approximate gross value added at basic prices (aGVA) and employment costs. All data are reported at current prices (effect of price changes not removed).

Where the economic downturn is mentioned it refers to the contraction of gross domestic product (GDP) that started in 2008, the year from which consistent ABS time series data are available. For more information about the ABS survey see the background notes.

The ABS has a wide range of uses: for example, ABS statistics are essential contributors to the UK National Accounts (http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/naa1-rd/national-accounts-concepts--sources-and-methods/august-2011/uk-national-accounts---a-short-guide.pdf), including the measurement of GDP (http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php/Glossary:GDP), they are supplied to Eurostat to meet the requirements of the European Structural Business Statistics (SBS) Regulation, and are used by the devolved administrations and central and local government to monitor and inform policy development.

ABS data were also recently published in our Exporters and Importers, Great Britain, 2014 (http://www.ons.gov.uk/businessindustryandtrade/business/businessservices/articles/annualbusinesssurvey/exportersandimportersingreatbritain2014) release and contributed to the adhoc release Four facts about trade and business links between the UK and the Commonwealth (http://visual.ons.gov.uk/four-facts-about-trade-and-business-links-between-the-uk-and-the-commonwealth/). For other uses see background note 4.

Questions often asked of the ABS release are “‘What is aGVA?” and “How does the measure of aGVA differ from the GVA measure in the National Accounts?”. For an overview of aGVA please see our infographic “What is aGVA?” (http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/abs/annual-business-survey/2012-revised-results/info-agva.html). National Accounts carry out coverage adjustments, conceptual adjustments and coherence adjustments. The National Accounts estimate of GVA uses input from a number of sources, and covers the whole UK economy, whereas ABS does not include farming, financial or public sectors and households. ABS total aGVA is around two-thirds of the National Accounts whole economy GVA because of these differences. For further information on aGVA, see background note 9. There is also the article “A Comparison between ABS and National Accounts Measures of Value Added” (http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/guide-method/method-quality/specific/business-and-energy/annual-business-survey/quality-and-methods/a-comparison-between-abs-and-national-accounts-measures-of-value-added.pdf) which provides more detail.

We make every effort to provide informative commentary on the data in this release. Where possible, the commentary draws on evidence from businesses or other sources of information to help explain possible reasons behind the observed changes. However, in some places it can prove difficult to elicit detailed reasons for movements, for example, businesses may state a “change in the nature of business activity”. Consequently, it is not possible for all data movements to be fully explained.

It is sometimes necessary to suppress figures for certain items in order to avoid disclosing information about an individual business. The ABS Technical Report (https://www.ons.gov.uk/file?uri=/businessindustryandtrade/business/businessservices/methodologies/annualbusinesssurveyabs/abstechnicalreport2014tcm77368873.pdf) describes the methods used to safeguard the information provided in confidence to ONS. In the same way our commentary must also avoid disclosing information about individual businesses.

3. Your views matter

We constantly aim to improve this release and its associated commentary. We would welcome any feedback you might have, and would be particularly interested in knowing how you make use of these data to inform your work. Please contact us via email: xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx) or telephone Jon Gough on xx-xxxx-xxxx.

4. UK non-financial business economy, Sections A to S (part)

In 2014, the income generated by businesses in the UK, less the cost of goods and services used to create this income was estimated to be £1,093.4 billion. This amount represents the approximate gross value added at basic prices (aGVA) of the UK non-financial business economy. Basic prices means the valuation of output includes net taxes (taxes minus subsidies) on production, such as business rates, but not net taxes on individual products that result from the production process, such as Value Added Tax (VAT).

Between 2013 and 2014, aGVA increased by 8.8% (£88.4 billion), the largest growth since 1997. This increase is a continuation of the recovery seen between 2009 and 2013 and takes aGVA to a level 20.2% (£183.7 billion) above that seen in 2008.

The main components of aGVA (http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/abs/annual-business-survey/2012-revised-results/info-agva.html) are:
- turnover (the main component of income)
- purchases (the main component of the consumed goods and services)
The consecutive annual increases seen in aGVA follow a similar pattern of increases in both turnover and purchases between 2009 and 2013. Turnover increased by 1.2% (£43.1 billion) between 2013 and 2014, while purchases of goods, materials and services decreased for the first time since 2009, by 1.3% (£32.6 billion), resulting in an 8.8% growth in aGVA. (see Figure 1).

A list of industries which are included in the Annual Business Survey (ABS) measure of the UK non-financial business economy can be found in background note 9.

Figure 1: UK Non-financial business economy, turnover and purchases and resulting aGVA

2008 to 2014

Source: Office for National Statistics

Notes:
- A list of industries which are included in the ABS measure of the UK Non-Financial Business Economy, can be found in background note 9.
Download this chart Figure 1: UK Non-financial business economy, turnover and purchases and resulting aGVA

With the exception of Production all other sectors of the UK non-financial business economy, as measured by the ABS, saw growth in aGVA between 2013 and 2014 (see Figures 2 and 3).

Non-financial services, the largest industry sector of the UK non-financial business economy contributed most to the increase in aGVA. The Non-financial services sector aGVA rose by 9.5% (£52.3 billion) between 2013 and 2014, the fifth consecutive annual increase, taking aGVA to £602.8 billion.

The Production sector saw a decrease of 1.1% (£2.5 billion) in aGVA following a slight rise between 2012 and 2013. This decrease in 2014 sees aGVA for the Production sector at £215.1 billion, as a result of the 26.3% (£5.8 billion) fall in aGVA for Mining and quarrying (Section B). All other sections in Production, including Manufacturing, saw an increase in aGVA between 2013 and 2014.

The main contributor to the fall in Mining and quarrying aGVA was Extraction of crude petroleum and natural gas (Division 06), where aGVA fell by 32.0% (£5.5 billion). One potential factor behind this was the sharp fall in commodity prices in the second half of 2014.

The Distribution sector aGVA rose by 19.6% (£30.8 billion) between 2013 and 2014. This increase took aGVA to £188.2 billion, which is above the level of £157.8 billion seen in 2008 for the first time. This rise in aGVA was driven by Other specialised wholesale (Group 46.7), which includes Wholesale of solid, liquid and gaseous fuels and related products, where businesses cited the fall in oil prices during 2014 as the reason for their fall in turnover and purchases (and the resulting rise in aGVA).

The Construction sector experienced growth in aGVA for the fourth consecutive year, increasing by 9.9% (£7.7 billion) to £85.3 billion in 2014, which, like the Distribution sector is now above the level of £84.8 billion seen in 2008 for the first time.

The Agriculture (part), Forestry and Fishing sector experienced a 7.8% (£0.1 billion) rise in aGVA between 2013 and 2014. This second consecutive annual increase takes aGVA to £2.0 billion.

Figure 2: UK Non-financial business economy, aGVA by sector

2008 to 2014, £ billion

Source: Office for National Statistics

Notes:

Excludes Financial and insurance; Public administration and defence; Public provision of Education; Public provision of Health and all medical and dental practice activities.

Excludes crop and animal production.

Includes Mining and quarrying, Energy generation and supply, Water and waste management.

Download this image Figure 2: UK Non-financial business economy, aGVA by sector

Figure 3: UK Non-financial business economy, aGVA change by sector

2008 to 2014

Source: Office for National Statistics

Notes:

Excludes Financial and insurance; Public administration and defence; Public provision of Education; Public provision of Health and all medical and dental practice activities.

Excludes crop and animal production.

Includes Mining and quarrying, Energy generation and supply, Water and waste management.

Download this chart Figure 3: UK Non-financial business economy, aGVA change by sector

Non-financial services as a whole (Sections H to S) dominates the UK non-financial business economy in terms of aGVA. However, at the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) section level, Distribution (Section G) and Manufacturing (Section C within the Production sector) are the largest specific contributors followed by Professional, scientific and technical (Section M within the Non-financial services sector). Construction (Section F) also contributes more to aGVA than 7 of the 10 sections within Non-financial services (see Figure 4).

Figure 4: UK Non-financial business economy, aGVA by section

2014

Source: Office for National Statistics

Notes:

Excludes public provision of Education, public provision of Health and all medical and dental practice activities

Excludes crop and animal production

Includes oil and gas extraction.

Download this chart Figure 4: UK Non-financial business economy, aGVA by section

When analysing those sections which have made the largest contributions to aGVA growth between 2013 and 2014 (see Figure 5), Distribution (Section G) is the largest, contributing 34.8% of the total aGVA growth. This is followed by 2 sections in the Non-financial services sector with a combined contribution of 28.9%:

Professional, scientific and technical (Section M)

Administrative and support services (Section N)

Only Mining and quarrying (Section B) in the Production sector is showing a fall in aGVA for 2014, decreasing by 26.3% (£5.8 billion) compared with 2013.

Figure 5: UK Non-financial business economy, aGVA change by section

2013 to 2014

Source: Office for National Statistics

Notes:

Excludes public provision of Education, public provision of Health and all medical and dental practice activities

Excludes crop and animal production

Includes oil and gas extraction.

Download this chart Figure 5: UK Non-financial business economy, aGVA change by section

Further details on these industry sections can be found in the subsequent chapters which describe the Non-financial services sector (Sections H to S), the Production sector (Sections B to E including Manufacturing), the Distribution sector (Section G), the Construction sector (Section F) and the Agriculture (part), Forestry and Fishing sector (Section A).

5. Non-financial services, Sections H to S (part)

The Non-financial services sector contributed £602.8 billion, over a half (55.1%) of the estimated gross value added at basic prices (aGVA) total of £1,093.4 billion in 2014 for the UK non-financial business economy.

Between 2013 and 2014, Non-financial services’ turnover increased at a higher rate than purchases, 4.4% (£49.9 billion) compared with 0.3% (£1.9 billion). Together with a rise in work of a capital nature this resulted in aGVA rising by 9.5% (£52.3 billion). This is the fifth consecutive year of growth in aGVA for the sector, following the fall between 2008 and 2009, (see Figure 6).

For details of revisions to 2013 and 2014 Non-financial services data see the later chapter on Revisions.

Figure 6: UK Non-financial services, turnover and purchases and resulting aGVA

2008 to 2014

Source: Office for National Statistics

Notes:
- Excludes Financial and insurance; Public administration and defence; Public provision of Education; Public provision of Health and all medical and dental practice activities.
Download this chart Figure 6: UK Non-financial services, turnover and purchases and resulting aGVA

All of the sections within the Non-financial services sector continued to see increases in aGVA between 2013 and 2014 (see Figures 7 and 8).

Those sections which have made the largest contributions to growth are:

Professional, scientific and technical (Section M)

Administrative and support services (Section N)

Information and communication (Section J)

These sections, which together accounted for 63.9% (£33.4 billion) of the increase in Non-financial services sector aGVA, are described, together with some of the other prominent sections, in more detail after Figure 7b.

Figure 7a: UK Non-financial services, aGVA by section

2014, £ billion

Source: Office for National Statistics

Notes:
- Excludes Financial and insurance; Public administration and defence; Public provision of Education; Public provision of Health and all medical and dental practice activities.
Download this image Figure 7a: UK Non-financial services, aGVA by section

Figure 7b: UK Non-financial services, aGVA by section

2008 to 2014, £ billion

Source: Office for National Statistics

Notes:
- Excludes Financial and insurance; Public administration and defence; Public provision of Education; Public provision of Health and all medical and dental practice activities.
Download this image Figure 7b: UK Non-financial services, aGVA by section

Professional, scientific and technical, Section M

Turnover in Professional, scientific and technical increased by 6.1% (£13.8 billion) between 2013 and 2014, with purchases increasing by 0.5% (£0.5 billion). The resulting growth in aGVA of 10.5% (£13.6 billion), meant aGVA remained above the level reported in 2008 for the fourth consecutive year.

This broad section, which covers a range of industries from Legal and accounting activities to Advertising and market research, and Veterinary activities, saw increases in aGVA in all its divisions between 2013 and 2014. Those divisions within the section, having the largest impact on aGVA growth (with a combined 64.3% (£8.7 billion) contribution) between 2013 and 2014 were:

Activities of head offices; management consultancy (Division 70)

Legal and accounting services (Division 69)

The growth shown by the ABS links to the Management Consultancies Association summary report for 2015 (http://www.mca.org.uk/reports/reports-data/the-definitive-guide-to-uk-consulting-industry-free-summary-report/) which reported strong growth in 2014 with an 8.4% increase in fee income.

Administrative and support services, Section N

Between 2013 and 2014, Administrative and support services saw turnover rise by 7.4% (£13.7 billion), while purchases increased by 2.8% (£2.6 billion) leading to an aGVA increase of 12.5% (£12.0 billion).

Two divisions contributed to almost three-quarters (73.0%) of the growth within Administrative and support services:

Employment activities (Division 78) with an aGVA increase of 16.6% (£4.7 billion)

Office administrative, office support and other business support activities (Division 82) with an aGVA increase of 17.6% (£4.1 billion)

A growth in this sector was supported by the Recruitment and Employment Confederation report for 2013 to 2014 (https://www.rec.uk.com/__data/assets/image/0008/176525/RITS-infographic-JPEG.jpg) which indicated a strong increase in employment activities, along with our Workforce Jobs figures which showed a growth of 2.4% in 2014.

Information and communication, Section J

Turnover in Information and communication increased by 2.8% (£5.5 billion) between 2013 and 2014 which, coupled with a 0.4% (£0.4 billion) decrease in purchases, resulted in an increase in aGVA of 8.1% (£7.9 billion) between 2013 and 2014.

Those divisions having the largest impact on aGVA growth, with a combined 82.6% (£6.5 billion) contribution between 2013 and 2014 were:

Telecommunications (Division 61), with an aGVA increase of 15.4% (£4.0 billion)

Computer programming, consultancy and related activities (Division 62), with an aGVA increase of 5.9% (£2.6 billion)

Division 62, which includes the development of mobile phone applications, has shown consistent growth of above 5.0% in each of the last 3 years. The addition of mobile phone applications to the CPI basket in 2011 (http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/cpi/cpi-rpi-basket/2011/index.html) and increase in internet use (http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/rdit2/internet-access---households-and-individuals/2014/stb-ia-2014.html) on mobile devices indicates this activity has been increasing in importance in recent years. The Bank of England’s agents’ summary of business conditions (http://www.bankofengland.co.uk/publications/Documents/agentssummary/2014/agsum14dec.pdf) suggests that some of the increase in demand for IT services may have come “from the finance sector and increased interest in cloud services from most sectors”.

Transport and storage, Section H

Turnover in Transport and storage increased by 3.9% (£6.2 billion) between 2013 and 2014, with purchases rising by 1.2% (£1.1 billion) resulting in a 6.7% (£4.7 billion) increase in aGVA.

Two divisions contributed 79.0% (£3.7 billion) of the growth within Transport and storage:

Land transport and transport via pipelines (Division 49)

Warehouse and support activities for transport (Division 52)

The growth in Division 49 was potentially influenced by the fall in oil prices towards the end of 2014, as reported in Figure 6 of our Economic Review, September 2015 (http://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/nationalaccounts/uksectoraccounts/articles/economicreview/2015-09-03) and also supported by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) in Table 4.1.1 (https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/oil-and-petroleum-products-monthly-statistics) of their monthly release on fuel prices.

Accommodation and food, Section I

Turnover in Accommodation and food increased by 6.7% (£5.2 billion) between 2013 and 2014, with purchases rising by 2.5% (£1.0 billion) resulting in a 12.2% (£4.7 billion) increase in aGVA.

The division having the largest impact on aGVA growth was Accommodation (Division 55) with 23.6% (£2.7 billion) growth between 2013 and 2014.

Education, Section P – private provision only

Turnover in Education increased by 11.5% (£4.1 billion) between 2013 and 2014, with purchases rising by 5.5% (£1.1 billion) resulting in a 20.7% (£3.4 billion) increase in aGVA.

The part of private education having the largest impact on aGVA growth was Tertiary education (Class 85.42) with a 33.5% (£1.8 billion) increase.

Figure 8: UK Non-financial services, aGVA change by section

2008 to 2014

Source: Office for National Statistics

Notes:

Non-financial services excludes: Financial and insurance, Public administration and defence, Public provision of Education, Public provision of Health and all medical and dental practice activities.

Excludes public provision of Education; public provision of Health and all medical and dental practice activities.

Download this chart Figure 8: UK Non-financial services, aGVA change by section

Significant divisional contributions

Within Sections H to S, at a division level, Computer programming, consultancy and related activities (Division 62) made the largest contribution to Non-financial services aGVA with £45.7 billion in 2014, followed by Legal and accounting services (Division 69) with £42.0 billion (see Figure 9).

Figure 9: UK Non-financial services, aGVA by division

2014

Source: Office for National Statistics

Notes:

Non-financial services excludes: Financial and insurance, Public administration and defence, Public provision of Education, Public provision of Health and all medical and dental practice activities

Excludes public provision of Education, public provision of Health and all medical and dental practice activities

Download this chart Figure 9: UK Non-financial services, aGVA by division

Activities of head offices, management consultancy (Division 70) showed the largest aGVA growth at 21.0% (£6.2 billion) between 2013 and 2014, followed by Employment activities (Division 78) with 16.6% (£4.7 billion) increase in aGVA (see Figure 10).

Computer programming (which made the largest overall contribution to Non-financial services in Figure 9) also showed the eighth largest growth in aGVA of 5.9% (£2.6 billion) in 2014. This division includes the development of mobile phone applications which has been increasing in importance in recent years.

The largest fall in aGVA during 2014 was 5.5% (£0.4 billion) in Human health (Division 86) covering private provision only in Hospital activities (Group 86.1) and Other human health activities (Group 86.9).

Figure 10: UK Non-financial services, aGVA change by division

2013 to 2014

Source: Office for National Statistics

Notes:

Non-financial services excludes: Financial and insurance, Public administration and defence, Public provision of Education, Public provision of Health and all medical and dental practice activities

Excludes public provision of Education, public provision of Health and all medical and dental practice activities

Download this chart Figure 10: UK Non-financial services, aGVA change by division

6. Production, Sections B to E

The Production sector in 2014 provided £215.1 billion, just under a fifth (19.7%) of the estimated gross value added at basic prices (aGVA) total of £1,093.4 billion for the UK non-financial business economy.

Both turnover and purchases decreased between 2013 and 2014 within the Production sector, turnover by £5.7 billion (0.8%) and purchases by £2.3 billion (0.5%). Together with changes in the value of stocks and own account capital investment, this led to a decrease in aGVA of 1.1% (£2.5 billion) back to the same level as 2012 after the rise between 2012 and 2013. The decrease in 2014 sees Production sector aGVA £7.4 billion below the level in 2008 (see Figure 11).

Production is the only sector within the UK non-financial business economy showing a fall in aGVA between 2013 and 2014. This is solely due to the impact of Mining and quarrying (Section B) which saw aGVA fall by 26.3% (£5.8 billion), see Figure 13. All other sections within the Production sector (Manufacturing, Energy generation and supply, and Water and waste management), saw a combined rise in aGVA between 2013 and 2014 of 1.7% (£3.3 billion). The levels of aGVA, turnover and purchases for these sections, both combined and individually in 2014, are above the levels seen in 2008.

For details of revisions to 2013 and 2014 Production data see the later chapter on Revisions.

Figure 11: UK Production, turnover and purchases and resulting aGVA

2008 to 2014

Source: Office for National Statistics

Download this chart Figure 11: UK Production, turnover and purchases and resulting aGVA

Manufacturing (Section C), which contributes 72.3% of Production sector aGVA, saw a rise in aGVA of 0.3% (£0.4 billion) between 2013 and 2014.

Over the same period Energy generation and supply (Section D), and Water and waste management (Section E) also saw increases in aGVA of 3.5% (£0.8 billion) and 12.7% (£2.1 billion) respectively, while Mining and quarrying (Section B) saw a decrease of 26.3% (£5.8 billion), see Figures 12 and 13.

Figure 12: UK Production, aGVA by section

2008 to 2014, £ billion

Source: Office for National Statistics

Notes:
- Includes oil and gas extraction.
Download this image Figure 12: UK Production, aGVA by section

Figure 13: UK Production, aGVA change by section

2008 to 2014

Source: Office for National Statistics

Notes:
- Includes oil and gas extraction.
Download this chart Figure 13: UK Production, aGVA change by section

Mining and quarrying, Section B, which includes oil and gas extraction

Turnover in Mining and quarrying decreased by a greater amount of 15.9% (£7.9 billion) than purchases, which decreased by 6.5% (£1.9 billion). This resulted in a decrease of 26.3% (£5.8 billion) in aGVA.

The main contributor to the fall in aGVA was Extraction of crude petroleum and natural gas (Division 06), where turnover decreased by 22.2% (£7.7 billion) and purchases by 11.2% (£2.2 billion). This resulted in a fall in aGVA of 32.0% (£5.5 billion) in Division 06.

One potential factor behind this was the sharp fall in commodity prices in the second half of 2014. For example, as reported in Figure 6 of our Economic Review September 2015 (http://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/nationalaccounts/uksectoraccounts/articles/economicreview/2015-09-03), crude oil prices fell from an average of £69.72 per barrel between 2011 and 2013 to £31.78 at the start of 2015. This is also supported by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) in Table 4.1.1 (https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/oil-and-petroleum-products-monthly-statistics) of their monthly release on fuel prices. Another contributing factor may be the slow-down in growth of emerging economies, which fell from 5.0% in 2013 to 4.6% in 2014 as reported by the International Monetary Fund in their July 2015 release of the World Economic Outlook (http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2015/update/02/pdf/0715.pdf).

Manufacturing (Section C)

The top 4 divisions contributing 43.1% of the overall Manufacturing aGVA in 2014 are (see Figure 14):

Manufacture of food products (Division 10)

Manufacture of motor vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers (Division 29)

Manufacture of fabricated metal products, except machinery and equipment (Division 25)

Manufacture of machinery and equipment not elsewhere classified (Division 28)

Figure 14: UK Manufacturing, aGVA by division

2014

Source: Office for National Statistics

Notes:
- Information for Beverages and Tobacco products, suppressed to avoid disclosure.
Download this chart Figure 14: UK Manufacturing, aGVA by division

Between 2013 and 2014, Manufacturing saw a negligible decrease in turnover (£0.1 billion) and a small increase in purchases (£0.1 billion) which, together with decreases in stock levels and changes in taxes, contributed to an increase in aGVA of 0.3% (£0.4 billion).

Across Manufacturing, almost 60% (14 out of 24) of the divisions contributing to this sector experienced increases in aGVA between 2013 and 2014.

Those divisions contributing most to the growth in Manufacturing aGVA were:

Manufacture of motor vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers (Division 29) with an aGVA increase of 20.6% (£3.0 billion)

Manufacture of fabricated metal products, except machinery and equipment (Division 25) with an aGVA increase of 9.4% (£1.3 billion)

Together these 2 divisions contributed £4.3 billion to the overall £0.4 billion increase in Manufacturing aGVA, which was offset by a £3.7 billion decrease in Manufacture of other transport equipment (Division 30), see Figure 15.

Manufacture of motor vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers (Division 29)

As was the case in 2013, the increase in Division 29 for this year can again be attributed to the increase in production, sales and exports of cars, in particular high end and luxury vehicles.

Our Economic Performance of the UK’s Motor Vehicle Manufacturing Industry (http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/abs/annual-business-survey/car-production/index.html) release says growth in this industry has been largely due to the continued growth in exports of motor vehicles to countries outside the EU. The non-EU export market has seen growth for the last 6 years. Exports to non-EU countries are growing at a faster rate than exports to EU countries; this strong demand for exported UK cars is confirmed by reports from the car manufacturing trade body, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). The SMMT report (http://www.smmt.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/SMMT-16th-Sustainability-Report-final.pdf) covering 2014 shows that the number of vehicles produced in the UK fell rapidly during the economic downturn, from 1.8 million in 2007 to 1.1 million in 2009. The industry has now partially recovered with 1.6 million vehicles being produced in 2014. Car output, the largest component of Division 29, rose to 1.53 million units, its highest level since 2007.

Manufacture of fabricated metal products, except machinery and equipment (Division 25)

There is a 9.4% (£1.3 billion) increase in aGVA for Manufacture of fabricated metal products (Division 25) driven by a 3.4% (£1.1 billion) rise in turnover and a 143.1% (£0.2 billion) rise in stocks. No particular reasons have been found for these changes.

Manufacture of other transport equipment (Division 30)

Manufacture of other transport equipment (Division 30) showed the greatest decrease in aGVA within Manufacturing during 2014. The 31.6% decrease of £3.7 billion was the result of a small 0.8% (£0.3 billion) decrease in turnover and a large 16.3% (£3.3 billion) increase in purchases. This division had seen steady growth between 2010 and 2013 with the UK government considering the aerospace industry a “phenomenal success story” and a sector that offers “tremendous opportunities for growth” in its House of Commons economic and statistics policy paper (The aerospace industry: statistics and policy (http://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/SN00928/SN00928.pdf)). A number of reasons have been given for its regression in 2014; the loss of sites, the loss of contracts and greater spend on sub-contractors.

Manufacture of coke and refined petroleum products (Division 19)

Manufacture of coke and refined petroleum products (Division 19) saw a fall in aGVA of 44.5% (£0.6 billion), the result of a 12.6% (£6.1 billion) decrease in turnover, an 18.2% (£7.0 billion) decrease in purchases and a 907.9% (£1.4 billion) fall in stocks. These decreases can be attributed to the Manufacture of petroleum products (Class 19.20) and are the result of the fall in the price of oil, the loss of sites and reduced volumes due to maintenance. Due to the small size of this division in terms of Manufacturing aGVA, annual changes should be viewed with care.

Figure 15: UK Manufacturing, aGVA change by division

2013 to 2014

Source: Office for National Statistics

Notes:
- Information for Beverages and Tobacco products, suppressed to avoid disclosure.
Download this chart Figure 15: UK Manufacturing, aGVA change by division

The economic downturn and recovery in the Manufacturing sector described by the ABS, between 2008 and 2014, is broadly in line with movements in comparable industries of our “UK Manufacturers' sales by product (PRODCOM)” figures. Both the ABS turnover estimates and the PRODCOM industry total sales estimates show a fall between 2008 and 2009 and then annual increases from 2009 to 2014, with ABS showing a slight fall in 2012.

Water and waste management, Section E

Water and waste management saw an increase in turnover of 4.4% (£1.5 billion) between 2013 and 2014, with purchases decreasing by 1.3% (£0.2 billion). Together with an increase in work of a capital nature of 66.1% (£0.2 billion), this resulted in an aGVA increase of 12.7% (£2.1 billion).

All 4 divisions within this section have shown increases in aGVA, the largest of which is Waste collection, treatment and disposal activities (Division 38) with a rise of 22.7% (£1.2 billion) in aGVA driven by an increase in turnover of 3.7% (£0.7 billion) and a decrease in purchases of 2.8% (£0.3 billion).

Energy generation and supply, Section D

Energy generation and supply also saw an increase in turnover of 0.7% (£0.8 billion) between 2013 and 2014, with purchases decreasing by 0.4% (£0.3 billion). Together with a decrease in stock levels of 56.4% (£0.3 billion), this resulted in an aGVA increase of 3.5% (£0.8 billion).

The continuing rise in the number of micro-businesses (those with less than 10 employees) in this sector is thought to be due to the growth of small producers of renewable energy encouraged by various green grants, subsidies and "feed-in tariffs". Between 2013 and 2014, the number of micro-businesses in this section increased by 27.2% (to over 2,950 businesses).

Notes for Manufacturing industries, Section C

Please note that the ABS figures for the Manufacturing industries should not be compared directly with PRODCOM's “Total Sales of Businesses Classified to this Industry” figure because:

PRODCOM publish a calendar year figure whereas ABS figures are based on annual responses from businesses covering a range of financial years

PRODCOM focuses on products whilst ABS focuses on activities. The total value of production, in a particular industry, may differ from the turnover reported by ABS as an enterprise might carry out other activities, in addition to production, that contribute to its turnover

PRODCOM and ABS produce estimates using different sampling and statistical methodologies

PRODCOM publish industry totals for turnover excluding HMRC duty, while ABS publishes turnover inclusive of duty

7. Distribution, Section G

The Distribution sector in 2014 contributed £188.2 billion, 17.2% of the estimated gross value added at basic prices (aGVA) total of £1,093.4 billion for the UK non-financial business economy.

The large rise in Distribution aGVA of 19.6% (£30.8 billion) between 2013 and 2014 was a result of a fall in purchases, for the first time since 2009, by a greater proportion of 3.5% (£46.1 billion) than the fall in turnover of 1.3% (£19.5 billion), see Figure 16.

This second consecutive annual increase in aGVA takes it above the level seen in 2008, for the first time by 19.6% (£30.8 billion).

For details of revisions to 2013 and 2014 Distribution data see the later chapter on Revisions.

Figure 16: UK Distribution, turnover and purchases and resulting aGVA

2008 to 2014

Source: Office for National Statistics

Download this chart Figure 16: UK Distribution, turnover and purchases and resulting aGVA

The division contributing most to the growth in Distribution aGVA was Wholesale with a 78.1% (£24.0 billion) contribution, as a result of purchases falling by a greater amount than turnover (see Figures 17 and 18). This rise in aGVA was driven by Other specialised wholesale (Group 46.7), which includes Wholesale of solid, liquid and gaseous fuels and related products, where businesses cited the fall in oil prices during 2014 as the reason for their fall in turnover and purchases (and the resulting rise in aGVA).

The remaining increases in aGVA which were contributed by Retail and Motor Trades, resulted from increases in both turnover and purchases.

Figure 17: UK Distribution, aGVA by division

2008 to 2014, £ billion

Source: Office for National Statistics

Download this image Figure 17: UK Distribution, aGVA by division

Wholesale (excluding Motor Trades), Division 46

Wholesale experienced greater decreases in purchases of 7.7% (£69.6 billion) than turnover of 4.9% (£48.3 billion) between 2013 and 2014, which resulted in an increase in aGVA of 46.4% (£24.0 billion).

The rise in aGVA between 2013 and 2014 was driven by Other specialised wholesale (Group 46.7), which showed an increase of £20.5 billion. This group includes Wholesale of solid, liquid and gaseous fuels and related products, where the reason cited by businesses for their fall in turnover and purchases (and the resulting rise in aGVA) over this period was the fall in oil prices during 2014. A potential factor behind this was the sharp fall in commodity prices in the second half of 2014, which is described in the earlier chapter on Mining and quarrying (Section B) within the Production sector.

Retail (excluding Motor Trades), Division 47

Retail aGVA saw an increase of 3.7% (£3.0 billion) between 2013 and 2014. This growth in aGVA was a result of a 3.4% (£12.1 billion) increase in turnover and a smaller 3.6% (£10.0 billion) increase in purchases.

The increase in aGVA was mainly caused by a 6.2% (£1.5 billion) rise in Retail sale of other goods (Group 47.7) which includes retail sale of clothing; and a 19.5% (£0.9 billion) rise in Retail sale not in stores, stalls or markets (Group 47.9) which includes retail sale via mail order houses or the internet.

There were variations within Retail sale in non-specialised stores (Group 47.1) with an increase in Other retail sale in non-specialised stores (Class 47.19) of 14.6% (£1.2 billion) which is offset by a decrease in Retail sale in non-specialised stores (Class 47.11) of 5.9% (£1.7 billion), which includes retail sales in supermarkets.

Reports from businesses continued to indicate that turnover from mail orders and via the internet increased at a higher rate than turnover from shops. Although increasing, retail sales from mail order and the internet remains a small share of total turnover.

Retail sale of automotive fuel (Group 47.3) saw decreases in turnover of 3.8% (£0.6 billion) and purchases of 4.9% (£0.7 billion). Reports from businesses indicate that the decrease in turnover and purchases were linked to the drop in crude oil prices.

Motor Trades (Wholesale and Retail), Division 45

Between 2013 and 2014, both turnover and purchases increased, by 10.9% (£16.7 billion) and 10.4% (£13.5 billion) respectively. This resulted in aGVA increasing by 15.3% (£3.7 billion), a second consecutive increase. Within Motor Trades, Sale of motor vehicles (Group 45.1) contributed most to the growth with a 26.2% (£3.3 billion) increase in aGVA between 2013 and 2014. This is the second consecutive annual increase for this group.

Figure 18: UK Distribution, aGVA change by division

2008 to 2014

Source: Office for National Statistics

Download this chart Figure 18: UK Distribution, aGVA change by division

Notes for Distribution industries, Section G

Retail (excluding Motor Trades), Division 47

Please note that the ABS figures for the Retail industry should not be compared directly with the annual “value non-seasonally adjusted” figures in the monthly “'Retail Sales Inquiry (http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/rsi/retail-sales/index.html)” release because:
- the ABS figures cover the UK, while the “Retail Sales Inquiry” covers Great Britain only
- the ABS “total” turnover figures in the main results tables represent sales to both business and the public and are published excluding VAT, while those in the “Retail Sales Inquiry” represent sales to the public only and are published including VAT
The ABS does publish “retail” turnover figures (for sales to the public only) in its Retail Commodities tables in the June release which are inclusive of VAT and will be closer to “Retail Sales Inquiry” figures, however:
- the ABS “retail” turnover figures includes data for National Health Service receipts and commissions whereas the “Retail Sales Inquiry” do not
- Retail Sales Inquiry does not cover household spending on services bought from the retail sector as it is designed to only cover goods
- although both outputs quote figures for a calendar year, the “Retail Sales Inquiry” produce monthly output measures which include average weekly value and volume estimates – the value estimates reflect the average total turnover that businesses have collected over a standard reporting period, while the volume estimates are calculated by taking the value estimates and adjusting to remove the impact of price changes; ABS figures are based on annual responses from businesses covering a range of financial years
8. Construction, Section F

The Construction industries contributed £85.3 billion, 7.8% of the estimated gross value added at basic prices (aGVA) total of £1,093.4 billion for the UK non-financial business economy in 2014.

Construction turnover increased by 9.1% (£18.0 billion) between 2013 and 2014, with purchases increasing by 11.0% (£13.4 billion). Together with a rise in stock levels, this resulted in a growth in aGVA of 9.9% (£7.7 billion). This is the fourth consecutive year of growth, taking it 0.6% (£0.5 billion) above the level seen in 2008 for the first time, see Figure 19.

For details of revisions to 2013 and 2014 Construction data see the later chapter on Revisions.

Figure 19: UK Construction, turnover and purchases and resulting aGVA

2008 to 2014

Source: Office for National Statistics

Download this chart Figure 19: UK Construction, turnover and purchases and resulting aGVA

As in the previous couple of years, the growth in Construction was mainly in Construction of buildings (Division 41) with a rise of 17.2% (£5.0 billion), see Figures 20 and 21. Specialised construction trades (Division 43) also contributed, with an increase in aGVA of 8.5% (£3.0 billion), but Civil engineering (Division 42) experienced a decrease in aGVA of 2.2% (£0.3 billion).

Figure 20: UK Construction, aGVA by section

2008 to 2014, £ billion

Source: Office for National Statistics

Download this image Figure 20: UK Construction, aGVA by section

Construction of buildings (Division 41)

Construction of buildings, which was the main contributor for the growth in the Construction sector, experienced an increase in aGVA of 17.2% (£5.0 billion) between 2013 and 2014. This was a result of an 11.0% (£8.7 billion) increase in turnover and a 13.6% (£6.8 billion) increase in purchases, coupled with a £2.8 billion rise in stock levels. As was the case in the previous 2 years, the main reason for the growth in aGVA was in the Development of building projects (Group 41.1).

The growth in Construction may be due to several factors such as rising house prices as reported in our Economic Review, July 2015 (http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/elmr/economic-review/july-2015/art.html) and improving credit conditions as reported by the Bank of England (http://www.bankofengland.co.uk/publications/Documents/other/monetary/ccs/creditconditionssurvey150106.pdf).

Our House Price Index (HPI) in the Economic Review shows that house prices grew by 3.8% in 2013 and by 10.3% in 2014. The increase in the demand for housing is also reflected by data from the Bank of England which show that mortgage approvals were 5.2% higher in 2014 than in 2013 (http://www.bankofengland.co.uk/statistics/Pages/bankstats/2015/sep.aspx).

Figure 21: UK Construction, aGVA change by division

2008 to 2014

Source: Office for National Statistics

Download this chart Figure 21: UK Construction, aGVA change by division

Notes for Construction industries, Section F

Please note that the ABS figures for the Construction industries should not be compared directly with annual figures in the monthly Output in the Construction Industry (http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/construction/output-in-the-construction-industry/index.html) release because:

the ABS figures cover the UK, while the “Output in the Construction Industry” covers Great Britain only

the 2 surveys measure different concepts of this industry

while both quote figures for a calendar year, the “Output in the Construction Industry” are based on the aggregate of the responses to 12 monthly surveys, whereas ABS figures are based on annual responses covering a range of business years

the ABS figures will always be larger than those in the “Output in the Construction Industry” because the latter excludes: Property developers (SIC 41.1); Payment on purchased services (architects, technical engineering, etc.); Payment to subcontractors, unless the subcontractors are not classified to construction and therefore are not part of the survey; Value of land; Value of materials sold (which are not part of a structure); and Fixtures, equipment and tools that are sold

the ABS figures include secondary activities related to businesses classified within the construction sector, while the “Output in the Construction Industry” covers only the construction activity of the businesses

9. Agriculture (part), Forestry and Fishing, Section A

The Annual Business Survey (ABS) covers only hunting, forestry, fishing and the support activities to agriculture. Commentary is therefore limited because the sector’s size in terms of economic output, as measured by the ABS, is small in comparison with the other sectors of the UK non-financial business economy. However, data for these parts of Section A can be found in the datasets linked to this bulletin.

Note that the values quoted below for Section A are in £ millions.

The part of Section A covered by ABS showed rises in turnover of 10.7% (£478 million) between 2013 and 2014 and in purchases of 12.6% (£346 million) which led to an increase of 7.8% (£148 million) in gross value added at basic prices (aGVA) between 2013 and 2014. The main contributor to the aGVA increase was Fishing (Group 03.1) which covers Marine fishing and Freshwater fishing. This increase in aGVA was driven by decreases seen in purchases.

This rise means that for the second consecutive year, at £2,044 million, aGVA is higher than the level in 2008.

Comparable GVA figures for the rest of Agriculture (which includes crop and animal production) are available in Chapter 3 (Table 3.2) of the Agriculture in the United Kingdom (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/agriculture-in-the-united-kingdom) release published annually by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), and shows a value of £9,869 million for 2014.

10. Revisions to 2014 and 2013 Annual Business Survey data

Due to the need to balance timeliness of the data with the accuracy, in line with the Annual Business Survey (ABS) Revisions Policy, ABS Provisional results are published in November with further quality assurance then leading to planned revisions to the data in subsequent releases.

These revisions usually arise from the receipt of additional data and the further validation and revision of existing data by businesses responding to the ABS, which may include restructures that can result in data being reallocated to a different industry.

When compared with the ABS Provisional results (https://www.ons.gov.uk/businessindustryandtrade/business/businessservices/bulletins/uknonfinancialbusinesseconomy/2014provisionalresults) published on 12 November 2015, the total revised 2014 results show a small downward revision for the UK Non-financial business economy. There were downward revisions to the 2014 estimates of 0.8% (£29.1 billion) in turnover, 0.8% (£19.5 billion) in purchases and 1.0% (£11.2 billion) approximate gross value added at basic prices (aGVA). The majority of the aGVA downward revisions were in Non-financial services and Production, which together accounted for 84.1% of the overall revision (see Figure 22).

Estimates of aGVA in 2013 have been revised up by 0.4% (£3.9 billion), as a result of upward revisions in Distribution, with a downward revision in Production.

Despite the revisions, the direction of movements of aGVA between 2013 and 2014 for the broad industry groups remains unchanged to that published in November 2015.

Figure 22: UK non-financial business economy, aGVA revisions

2014

Source: Office for National Statistics

Notes:

Excludes Financial and insurance; Public administration and defence; Public provision of Education; Public provision of Health and all medical and dental practice activities.

Agriculture (part), forestry and fishing data are excluded as the values are negligible on a comparable scale.

Download this chart Figure 22: UK non-financial business economy, aGVA revisions

The Non-financial services sector showed a downward revision of £6.5 billion to the 2014 results. This was driven by downward revisions in Professional, scientific and technical activities (Section M) and in Information and communication (Section J). The final 2013 results show a small upward revision of £0.1 billion to aGVA.

In the Production sector the revised 2014 results show a downward revision of £3.0 billion, driven by Mining and quarrying (Section B), Manufacturing (Section C) and Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply (Section D). The final 2013 results show a downward revision to aGVA of £1.4 billion.

The Construction sector showed a downward revision to aGVA of £1.0 billion in both the revised 2014 and the final 2013 results.

In the Distribution sector the revised 2014 results show a downward revision in aGVA of £0.7 billion. This revision was driven by downward revisions within Retail (excluding Motor Trades) (Division 47) and Wholesale (excluding Motor Trades) (Division 46). The final 2013 results show an upward revision of £6.1 billion in aGVA, driven by upward revisions of £3.2 billion within Wholesale (excluding Motor trades) (Division 46) and £2.9 billion in Retail (excluding Motor Trades) (Division 47).

In the Agriculture (part), Forestry and Fishing sector the revised 2014 results showed a downward revision to aGVA of £0.1 billion.

All of the above revisions were the result of different combinations of the receipt of additional data, the further validation and revision of existing data, and the restructuring of businesses responding to the ABS that can result in data being reallocated to a different industry. The magnitude of the revisions is in line with revisions made in previous years.

11. European comparison

Figure 23 shows the share of the total value of EU-28 gross value added at basic prices (aGVA) in the business economy of each member state in 2012 (the latest figures available). The UK makes the second largest contribution with 17.1% of total EU aGVA. Germany accounts for 23.2% of EU aGVA. France and Italy are the only other member states with more than 10% of EU business economy aGVA.

Figure 23: Percentage share of the aGVA for the business economy in the EU-28

2013

Source: Eurostat

Notes:

aGVA presented here is at factor costs, not at basic prices

Industry coverage for the European comparisons is SIC Sections B–N, excluding Section K. This is the business economy excluding ‘Agriculture, Education, Human health and social work activities, Arts, entertainment and recreation, Other service activities’

Data are included for 27 of the EU-28 countries. Data for Ireland are unavailable. Croatia joined the European Union on 1 July 2013. 2013 data are the latest available period for European comparisons

Source of boundaries UNEP (2015)

Download this image Figure 23: Percentage share of the aGVA for the business economy in the EU-28

.Background notes

1. What’s changed?

Changes to the collection of Capital Expenditure by the ABS and the effect on the calculation of aGVA

The 2014 ABS survey saw the introduction of additional questions for acquisition and disposal of capital assets. The changes were required to meet our obligations under the latest European legislation: the European System of Accounts 2010 (ESA 2010). There was an increase in the number of component questions, creating finer detail and as such it is expected that businesses will have included capital spend that may have previously been unreported. The National Accounts article published in August 2014 has more background to the changes and an explanation of the reasons for increasing the number of questions asked on capital expenditure.

Detail - National Accounts Article: Changes to the Annual Business Survey, the Quarterly Survey of Capital Expenditure and the Survey into Business Spending on Capital Items, in 2015 (http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/naa1-rd/national-accounts-articles/changes-to-the-annual-business-survey--the-quarterly-survey-of-capital-expenditure-and-the-survey-into-business-spending-on-capital-items--in-2015/index.html)

Detail - To see the new capital asset questions, visit our ABS Survey at a glance web-page (http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/about-ons/get-involved/taking-part-in-a-survey/information-for-businesses/a-to-z-of-business-surveys/annual-business-survey/index.html).

There was also a minor change to the ABS calculation of approximate Gross Value Added (aGVA). As announced in a National Accounts Article in 2014, the ESA 2010 regulation made it clearer that ABS should include the value of in-house developed software in the calculation of aGVA. This has brought the ABS in line with the European Structural Business Statistics (SBS). The contribution of in-house developed software to 2014 aGVA for the whole of the UK non-financial business economy was 0.40% (£4.4bn). For comparison the 2013 and 2012 value UK non-financial business economy aGVA, if in-house developed software were added, would increase by 0.23% (£2.3 billion), and 0.26% (£2.4 billion) respectively.

2. Annual Business Survey – ABS

Our Annual Business Survey (ABS), formerly the Annual Business Inquiry part 2 (ABI/2), is the main resource for understanding the detailed structure, conduct and performance of businesses across the UK.

The ABS survey samples approximately 63,000 businesses in Great Britain from a population of over 1.8 million businesses in the sample frame on the Inter-Departmental Business Register (IDBR). The responding businesses provide information such as their turnover, purchases, employment costs, capital expenditure and stocks.

Approximately 11,000 businesses in Northern Ireland are sampled from a population of 49,000 by the Department of Finance and Personnel Northern Ireland and contribute to the UK estimates.

Any reference to "businesses" relates to reporting units registered for VAT and/or PAYE on the IDBR. Some very small businesses (those without employees and with turnover below the tax threshold) will therefore be excluded. Data comparing registered and unregistered businesses in the UK (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/business-population-estimates) are published by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS). An introduction to the Inter-Departmental Business Register (IDBR) (https://www.ons.gov.uk/aboutus/whatwedo/paidservices/interdepartmentalbusinessregisteridbr) can be found on our website.

In this publication, a range of estimates are published including turnover, purchases, approximate gross value added at basic prices (aGVA) and employment costs for industry sectors and the UK non-financial business economy. All data are reported at current prices (effect of price changes included).

Visit the ABS webpages (https://www.ons.gov.uk/businessindustryandtrade/business/businessservices/methodologies/annualbusinesssurveyabs) for more in-depth information about the ABS, plus the latest news on survey changes and developments.

An ABS Glossary (http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/guide-method/method-quality/specific/business-and-energy/annual-business-survey/quality-and-methods/annual-business-survey--glossary-of-terms.pdf) of terms is available to help interpret the technical descriptions and abbreviations used throughout this bulletin.

3. ABS quality information

A Quality and Methodology Information (QMI) report (https://www.ons.gov.uk/businessindustryandtrade/business/businessservices/qmis/annualbusinesssurveyqmi) for the ABS can be found on our website. The aims of the QMI report are to provide you with a greater understanding of our statistics, their uses and the methods that are used to produce them.

The ABS is a sample survey. As with all estimates obtained from sample surveys, ABS estimates are subject to various sources of error. The total error in a survey estimate is the difference between the estimate derived from the data collected and the true (unknown) value for the population. The total error consists of 2 main elements; the sampling error and the non-sampling error. The ABS was designed to minimise both these errors. The standard error is the estimated value of the sampling error. The estimate for a variable, plus and minus the standard error for the variable, gives a range in which the true unknown value for the population should lie. The closer the standard error is to 0, the more reliable the estimate.

The coefficient of variation is the standard error of a variable divided by the survey estimate, and it is used to compare the relative precision across surveys or variables. The closer the coefficient of variation is to 0, the more reliable the estimate. Standard errors and coefficients of variation for turnover, aGVA, purchases, employment costs and capital expenditure are available in the quality measures table (http://www.ons.gov.uk/businessindustryandtrade/business/businessservices/datasets/uknonfinancialbusinesseconomyannualbusinesssurveyqualitymeasures) published with this release.

More detailed information on these and other quality and methodology issues is available in the ABS Technical Report (http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/guide-method/method-quality/specific/business-and-energy/annual-business-survey/quality-and-methods/abs-technical-report---june-2014.pdf) published on the ABS webpages (http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/guide-method/method-quality/specific/business-and-energy/annual-business-survey/index.html).

Selective editing

When ABS responses are received, checks are undertaken to ensure the information is correct. This is known as editing and validation. Selective editing was used to validate responses for the first time for the 2011 results using software called SELEKT. SELEKT is a generic selective editing tool which highlights responses which appear to be in error if they fall outside the range of what is expected and have a large influence on main estimates. Those responses with the highest score are prioritised for editing and validation. This increases the efficiency of the editing process by focusing on the responses with the highest impact and importance.

The introduction of selective editing should at least maintain, if not improve the quality of the ABS results as it should: minimise the bias introduced by processing (removing over-editing); remove non-value adding activities from the process; and focus resources to errors that impact on the results.

However, the full impact on quality is not yet known. This will continue to be monitored and any updates will be included with future ABS releases. For more information on SELEKT, see Chapter 5 of the ABS Technical Report.

4. Uses and users of ABS statistics

ABS outputs may be used to answer questions such as:

how much wealth has been created in a particular industry?

has there been a shift in activity from one industrial sector to another, and which industry groups/classes/subclasses are driving the change?

are any industries particularly dominant in specific regions or countries of the UK and are there structural changes over time?

how productive is a particular industry, such as the chemicals sector, and what is its operating profitability?

ABS data was used in these recent ONS publications:

Exporters and Importers, Great Britain, 2014 (http://www.ons.gov.uk/businessindustryandtrade/business/businessservices/articles/annualbusinesssurvey/exportersandimportersingreatbritain2014)

Four facts about trade and business links between the UK and the Commonwealth (http://visual.ons.gov.uk/four-facts-about-trade-and-business-links-between-the-uk-and-the-commonwealth/)

There are a wide range of users that view, download and utilise the ABS data. Main users of the output include:

National Accounts: The statistics produced help to improve the overall quality of the UK National Accounts and the measurement of gross domestic product (GDP). The ABS forms a major data input to the production of Input-Output Annual Supply and Use Tables (http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20140721132900/http:/www.statistics.gov.uk/hub/economy/national-accounts/supply-and-use-tables) used to set the annual level of UK GDP. The Supply and Use tables show the sales and purchases relationships between consumers and producers by industry (see chapter 2 of UK National Accounts, Blue Book (https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/grossdomesticproductgdp/compendium/unitedkingdomnationalaccountsthebluebook/2015-10-30/chapter02theindustrialanalyses)). For the latest available comparison with National Accounts GVA see the figures for 2013 in the Blue Book 2015 edition Tables 2.2 and 2.2_2 (http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/naa1-rd/united-kingdom-national-accounts/the-blue-book--2015-edition/rft-chapter-2---the-industrial-analysis.xls)

Indices of Services and Production: Use ABS data to calculate the weights used to produce the indexes, and to calculate the deflation of turnover.

Eurostat (http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/statistics_explained/index.php/Structural_business_statistics_overview): ABS is the main source of data supplied to Eurostat to meet the requirements of the European Structural Business Statistics (SBS) Regulation. This regulation ensures that main statistics on the structure of businesses are composed in a way which is comparable across Europe. Eurostat use SBS data to inform and monitor European Union policy.

Scottish government (http://home.scotland.gov.uk/hom) and the Welsh government (http://wales.gov.uk/?lang=en): The financial information is also used by the Scottish government and the Welsh government in the compilation of regional and country specific Input-Output tables (for example, Scottish Input-Output (http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Economy/Input-Output)) and Indices of Production (for example, Welsh Indices of Production (http://gov.wales/statistics-and-research/index-production-construction/?lang=en)). The resulting outputs are used to inform and monitor policy.

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-business-innovation-skills#): Use ABS data to assess the structure and performance of UK industries.

Other local and national government departments and bodies: Use ABS data on Exporters and Importers (produced as a separate release) to monitor the number of businesses that undertake trade.

Local Authorities: Data are used for economic research, planning purposes, lobbying and economic strategy development.

Business consultants: Use these data to understand trends in industry sectors and UK regions.

Marketing experts: Use these data to undertake demographic mapping and market segmentation.

Businesses, academics and the general public use these data for research, modelling or forecasting and to track industry trends.

More detailed information on the uses and users of ABS is available in the ABS Technical Report (http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/guide-method/method-quality/specific/business-and-energy/annual-business-survey/quality-and-methods/abs-technical-report---june-2014.pdf) published on the ABS webpages (http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/guide-method/method-quality/specific/business-and-energy/index.html).

5. Your views matter

A short ABS user survey asking for feedback on ABS releases closed in August 2015. We have analysed your comments and published our response (https://www.ons.gov.uk/aboutus/whatwedo/statistics/consultationsandsurveys/allconsultationsandsurveys/annualbusinesssurveystatisticssurvey).

We are constantly aiming to improve this release and its associated commentary. We would welcome any feedback you might have, and would be particularly interested in knowing how you make use of these data to inform your work. Please contact us via email: xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx) or telephone Jon Gough on xx-xxxx-xxxx.

6. International comparisons

International comparisons of structural business statistics up to 2013 are available from Eurostat (for the European Union), and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD):

Eurostat (http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php/Main_Page): analysis of the European business economy

OECD (http://stats.oecd.org/): follow the link to the structural analysis database, under the industry and services theme

7. ABS revisions

ABS estimates are revised in line with the ABS Revisions Polic (https://www.ons.gov.uk/methodology/methodologytopicsandstatisticalconcepts/revisions)y. The revisions policy is available in the ABS Technical Report (https://www.ons.gov.uk/file?uri=/businessindustryandtrade/business/businessservices/methodologies/annualbusinesssurveyabs/abstechnicalreport2014tcm77368873.pdf) to assist users with their understanding of the cycle and frequency of data revisions. You are strongly advised to read this policy before using the data for research or policy-related purposes.

Planned revisions usually arise from either the receipt of additional data or the correction of errors to existing data by businesses responding to the ABS. Those of notable magnitude will be highlighted and explained.

Revisions to published ABS results can be expected at the following times in the normal course of operation of the ABS:

national figures for the current reference year will usually be revised between the provisional and revised data releases

national figures for the previous reference year will be revised at the current survey year's revised data release

As an example of the timing and scale of revisions, provisional national data for 2014 were first published in November 2015 and were then revised in this June 2016 release. Between the provisional and revised 2014 national releases there was an overall change in the estimate of UK Non-financial business economy turnover of -0.8% (-£29.1 billion). At the same time (June 2016) national data for 2013 were also revised.

Revisions to data provide one indication of the reliability of main indicators. A table showing the size of revisions is published alongside the statistical bulletin released in June each year.

All other revisions will be regarded as unplanned and will be dealt with by non-standard releases. All revisions will be released in compliance with the same principles as other new information.

8. Response rates and compliance costs

The figures in this release are based on an annual survey of businesses. Provisional 2014 results are based on a response rate of 78.6%. Response rates by different sectors can be found in the Quality Measures dataset (http://www.ons.gov.uk/businessindustryandtrade/business/businessservices/datasets/uknonfinancialbusinesseconomyannualbusinesssurveyqualitymeasures) accompanying this release.

Table 1: UK non-financial business economy (part) 1 - Response rates by sector, 2010 to 2014

Standard Industrial Classification (Revised 2007) SectorDescription2010 22011 32012 42013 52014 6 %%%%% A-S (Part) 1Agriculture, forestry and fishing, Production, Construction, Distribution and Non-financial services78.277.977.876.280.2 A (Part) 1Agriculture, forestry and fishing76.376.480.277.680.4 B-EProduction78.777.778.778.381.3 FConstruction74.874.974.869.775.7 GDistribution77.177.677.574.778.8 H-S (Part) 1Non-financial services79.579.078.477.981.7 Notes: 1. The ABS covers only the UK Non-financial business economy which accounts for approximately two thirds of the UK economy in terms of gross value added. The industries covered are: o Agriculture (support activities SIC 01.6 and hunting and trapping SIC 01.7 only), forestry and fishing - Section A o Production - Sections B-E o Construction - Section F o Distribution - Section G o Non-financial services - Sections H, I, J, L, M, N, P (private provision only), Q (private provision only in SIC 86.1 and 86.9), R and S 2. Response rate at June 2012 3. Response rate at June 2013 4. Response rate at June 2014 5. Response rate at June 2015 6. Response rate at June 2016

Download this table Table 1: UK non-financial business economy (part) 1 - Response rates by sector, 2010 to 2014

For an estimate of the cost to Great Britain businesses for providing their data to the ABS (known as compliance cost) see appendix B of the ONS Compliance Plan.

9. General information

These points should be noted when using ABS results:

ABS coverage

The results in this statistical bulletin represent approximately two-thirds of the UK economy in terms of gross value added. In previous releases the UK Business Economy has been referred to as the Whole Economy.

The industries covered are:

Agriculture (support activities SIC 01.6 and hunting and trapping 01.7 only), forestry and fishing - Section A

Production industries - Sections B to E

Construction industries - Section F

Distribution industries - Section G

Non-financial services industries - Sections H, I, J, L, M, N, P (private provision only),Q (SIC 87 and 88, private provision only in SIC 86.1 and 86.9), R and S

The main industries excluded are:

Agriculture (crop and animal production SIC 01.1, 01.2, 01.3, 01.4 and 01.5 in Section A)

Financial and insurance (Section K)

Public administration and defence (Section O)

Education (public provision in Section P)

Health (SIC 86.2, public provision in SIC 86.1 and 86.9 in Section Q)

Data for a small part of the Financial and insurance sector (Insurance and reinsurance only (SIC 65.1 and 65.2)) has been collected by the ABS since 2008 and was previously included in the results. This was the only part of Financial and insurance activities (Section K) covered by the survey. As with any new time-series, estimates for these industries have remained experimental while ongoing quality assurance has taken place. This quality assurance has led the figures to be revised substantially in recent years with a resulting break in the series between 2009 and 2010. Following discussions with main users, we decided to remove this experimental series from ABS releases for the reference year 2012 onwards due to the continued volatility of the data. The estimates for this series have been removed from releases since November 2013 to allow for a more detailed quality assessment to be undertaken. The removal of these series does not affect other industries published as part of this release and has no impact on any of our other financial statistics.

A review of the questionnaire for Insurance and reinsurance businesses will be undertaken, alongside continued validation of returns to the survey, with the aim of reintroducing them to the ABS publications when the quality of the data has improved.

Standard Industrial Classification

ABS results are classified according to the Standard Industrial Classification of Economic Activities (SIC) system (https://www.ons.gov.uk/methodology/classificationsandstandards/ukstandardindustrialclassificationofeconomicactivities/uksic2007). The UK is required by European legislation to have a system of classification consistent with the European Union’s industrial classification system. The system underwent a major review in 2007. ABS data have been collected and published on the SIC 2007 system since the reference year 2008. Other revisions to the system occurred in 1958, 1968, 1980, 1992, 1997, and 2003.

UK SIC 2007 is divided into 21 sections, each denoted by a single letter from A to U. Each section can be uniquely defined by the next breakdown, the divisions (denoted by 2 digits). The divisions are then broken down into groups (3 digits), then into classes (4 digits) and, in several cases, again into subclasses (5 digits). So for example we have:

section C manufacturing (comprising divisions 10 to 33)

division 13 manufacture of textiles

group 13.9 manufacture of other textiles

class 13.93 manufacture of carpets and rugs

subclass 13.93/1 manufacture of woven or tufted carpets and rugs

The full structure of SIC 2007 consists of 21 sections, 88 divisions, 272 groups, 615 classes and 191 subclasses in SIC 2007.

Structural changes to businesses

The business economy is constantly evolving as businesses merge, are taken over, or simply change the main focus of their business. These changes can result in the industry classification of a business changing over time. For example, if a business undertakes both manufacturing and wholesale activities, but most of its employment is within manufacturing, it will be classified to manufacturing. If the employment were to change substantially so that the majority worked in wholesale then the industry classification would change and the whole of the businesses turnover, for example, would move from manufacturing to wholesale. In industries where movements are common, or where large businesses are involved, these changes can themselves sometimes cause large changes in ABS estimates. This should be taken into consideration when changes over time are being assessed.

Calculation of gross value added estimates

Approximate gross value added at basic prices (aGVA) is derived from the responses of businesses to questions asked on the ABS. It is a measure of the income generated by businesses, industries or sectors, less the cost of goods and services used to create the income. The main component of income is “turnover”, while “purchases” is the main component of the consumed goods and services. Stock levels which may rise or fall can also have an impact on aGVA, as can the values of subsidies received or duty paid. Businesses' labour costs (for example, wages and salaries) are paid from the value of aGVA, leaving a gross operating surplus (or loss) which is a good approximation for profit (or loss). The cost of capital investment, financial charges and dividends to shareholders are met from the gross operating surplus.

aGVA is calculated in “basic prices”. That is, the valuation of output includes net taxes (taxes minus subsidies) on production, such as business rates, but not net taxes on individual products that result from the production process, such as Value Added Tax (VAT).

Estimates of turnover and purchases from the ABS are used to produce estimates of output and intermediate consumption (and therefore GVA) in the National Accounts. However, many other sources (including surveys and administrative sources) are also used to produce National Accounts estimates. These include sources of data on taxation and inventories (which are preferred to the ABS as they are used consistently throughout all parts of the National Accounts), as well as own-use output and non-market output (as these activities are only partially covered by the ABS).

There are differences between the 2 measures of gross value added in terms of coverage. For example, GVA covers the whole of the UK economy while aGVA covers the UK non-financial business economy, a subset of the whole economy that excludes large parts of agriculture, all of public administration and defence, publicly provided healthcare and education, and the financial sector.

There are conceptual differences between the 2 measures of gross value added. For example, some production activities such as illegal smuggling of goods must be included in the National Accounts but are outside the scope of the ABS.

There are 3 approaches to measuring GDP; one based on production activity, one based on expenditure, and one based on income. In theory, the 3 approaches should produce the same estimate of GDP. However, in practice this is never the case because the 3 approaches make use of different data sources, each with their own definitions and limitations. The 3 different estimates are therefore reconciled in a process known as “Supply and Use balancing”. The balancing process is informed by a variety of data sources, and results in adjustments to estimates of output and intermediate consumption. For many industries, the balancing adjustment is the greatest source of difference between estimates from the ABS and the National Accounts.

More detailed information of the differences between aGVA and GVA is available in the ABS Technical Report (https://www.ons.gov.uk/file?uri=/businessindustryandtrade/business/businessservices/methodologies/annualbusinesssurveyabs/abstechnicalreport2014tcm77368873.pdf) published on the ABS webpages. There is also a more detailed article “A Comparison between ABS and National Accounts Measures of Value Added (http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/guide-method/method-quality/specific/business-and-energy/annual-business-survey/quality-and-methods/a-comparison-between-abs-and-national-accounts-measures-of-value-added.pdf)” recently published by the ABS.

Business Register and Employment Survey

The datasets that support this release include estimates of employment. The ABS does not collect employment level information so instead this important information is taken from another source. In the past, employment data were collected via the Annual Business Inquiry / Part 1 (ABI/1), however, in 2009, ABI/1 was replaced with the Business Register and Employment Survey (BRES). The ABS and BRES are both optimal for their respective purposes, however caution should be taken when combining the financial data from the ABS and employment information from BRES to calculate estimates due to differences in methodology. More information on the differences between ABS and BRES is available in the ABS Technical Report (https://www.ons.gov.uk/file?uri=/businessindustryandtrade/business/businessservices/methodologies/annualbusinesssurveyabs/abstechnicalreport2014tcm77368873.pdf) published on the ABS webpages (https://www.ons.gov.uk/businessindustryandtrade/business/businessservices/methodologies/annualbusinesssurveyabs).

Employment estimates by employment sizeband from BRES are not available in this release due to ongoing quality concerns about this information. We aim to resolve this issue in time for the 2015 BRES results published in September 2016. This will mean that employment sizeband estimates for all years back to 2009 will be reinstated within the ABS release in November 2016.

Employment figures are still available at an industry breakdown.

10. Disclosure control and symbols used

It is sometimes necessary to suppress figures for certain items in order to avoid disclosing information about an individual business. Further information on why data are suppressed is available in the ONS Disclosure Control Policy (http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/guide-method/best-practice/disclosure-control-policy-for-tables/index.html) or in the ABS Technical Report (https://www.ons.gov.uk/file?uri=/businessindustryandtrade/business/businessservices/methodologies/annualbusinesssurveyabs/abstechnicalreport2014tcm77368873.pdf).

The following symbols are used throughout the ABS releases:

(*) information suppressed to avoid disclosure

.. not available

_ nil or less than half the level of rounding

11. National Statistics

The UK Statistics Authority reviewed ABS outputs in their report “Assessment of compliance with the Code of Practice for Official Statistics: Statistics from the Annual Business Survey – Assessment Report 180 (https://www.statisticsauthority.gov.uk/publication/statistics-from-the-annual-business-survey/)”.

Following the ABS response to the report the UK Statistics Authority (https://www.statisticsauthority.gov.uk/) have since designated these statistics as National Statistics (https://www.statisticsauthority.gov.uk/national-statistician/types-of-official-statistics/), in accordance with the Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007 (https://www.statisticsauthority.gov.uk/about-the-authority/uk-statistical-system/legislation/key-legislative-documents/) and signifying compliance with the Code of Practice for Official Statistics (https://www.statisticsauthority.gov.uk/monitoring-and-assessment/code-of-practice/).

12. Government Statistical Service (GSS) business statistics

To find out about other official business statistics, and choose the right data for your needs, use the GSS Business Statistics Interactive User Guide (http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/HTMLDocs/Interactive_Business_Stats/interactive_business_statistics_user_guide.html). By selecting your topics of interest, the tool will pinpoint publications that should be of interest to you, and provide you with links to more detailed information and the relevant statistical releases. It also offers guidance on which statistics are appropriate for different uses.

13. Discussing our business statistics online

There is a Business and Trade Statistics (http://www.statsusernet.org.uk/statsusernet/communities/viewcommunities/groupdetails?CommunityKey=36dd28ed-e10a-440e-b7fb-86650b746c43) community on the StatsUserNet (http://www.statsusernet.org.uk/Home/) website. StatsUserNet is the Royal Statistical Society’s interactive site for users of official statistics. The community objectives are to promote dialogue and share information between users and producers of official business and trade statistics about the structure, content and performance of businesses within the UK. Anyone can join the discussions by registering via either of the links.

14. ONS theme pages

Statistics are available on our web pages categorised by themes, subject areas and topics. If you are interested in statistics on a particular issue, navigating through the categories will identify all the statistics available that relate to the selected theme, subject or topic.

For Business themed publications please visit the Business, Industry and Trade (https://www.ons.gov.uk/businessindustryandtrade) theme page.

15. Special events

We have published commentary, analysis and policy on “Special Events” which may affect statistical outputs. For full details visit the Special Events page (http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20160105160709/http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/guide-method/method-quality/general-methodology/special-events-group/index.html) on our website.

16. Release policy

ABS UK national results at the industry class level (4 digit Standard Industrial Classification 2007) are available free of charge via the “Data in this release” button at the top of this publication, or from the ABS webpages (https://www.ons.gov.uk/businessindustryandtrade/business/businessservices/methodologies/annualbusinesssurveyabs) on our website. The published variables include turnover, purchases, aGVA and employment costs.

Additional standard extracts containing more detail are available on request. Bespoke analyses are also available but there will be a charge for these. For more information about either of these services please email xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx), or telephone xx-xxxx-xxxx for standard extracts, or xx-xxxx-xxxx for bespoke special analyses

Any bespoke analysis carried out for ABS customers will be available free of charge on our web pages (https://www.ons.gov.uk/businessindustryandtrade/business/businessservices/datalist?sortBy=release_date&filter=user_requested_data).

. Methodology

Back to table of contents (#toc)

View all data used in this Statistical bulletin (/businessindustryandtrade/business/businessservices/bulletins/uknonfinancialbusinesseconomy/2014revisedresultsannualbusinesssurvey/relateddata)

Contact details for this Statistical bulletin

Jon Gough xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx) Telephone: xx-xxxx-xxxx

Related publications
- Non-financial business economy, UK (Annual Business Survey): 2014 provisional results (/businessindustryandtrade/business/businessservices/bulletins/uknonfinancialbusinesseconomy/2014provisionalresults)
- Non-financial business economy, UK (Annual Business Survey): 2017 provisional results (/businessindustryandtrade/business/businessservices/bulletins/uknonfinancialbusinesseconomy/2017provisionalresults)
Footer links

Help
- Accessibility (/help/accessibility)
- Cookies (/cookies)
- Privacy (/help/privacynotice)
- Terms and conditions (/help/termsandconditions)
About ONS
- What we do (/aboutus/whatwedo)
- Careers (https://careers.ons.gov.uk)
- Contact us (/aboutus/contactus)
- News (/news)
- Freedom of Information (/aboutus/transparencyandgovernance/freedomofinformationfoi)
Connect with us
- X (https://twitter.com/ONS)
- Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/officefornationalstatistics)
- Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/ONS)
- LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/office-for-national-statistics)
- Consultations (https://consultations.ons.gov.uk/)
- Discussion forums (https://www.statsusernetwork.ons.gov.uk/)
- Email alerts (https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/UKONS/subscribers/new)
All content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/), except where otherwise stated