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Economic Data (SWO Economy Module)

In this section we highlight a selection of important economic and business datasets, showing changes over time. Click on the links below to access more information about these including the data files that sit behind them and any external links where available.

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  • Annual Business Survey Sector contribution (%) to SW turnover growth (09-10) from Annual Business SurveyThe Annual Business Survey (ABS) is the UK's key resource for understanding the detailed structure and performance of businesses across the UK. It is an annual survey of businesses covering the production, construction, distribution and service industries which represent the UK Economy. This is about two thirds of the UK's whole economy in terms of GVA. The data is available at regional level and the charts make interesting reading. In particular it shows the large contribution to overall turnover growth as
  • Balance of Trade UK Imports & Exports 1999-2011 (Balance of Trade)Released quarterly, this chart highlights the total national value of imported and exported goods. It shows that total imports and exports have consistently risen, although the former more steeply. The gap between the two shows the trade deficit that exists in the UK and also highlights that, despite the recession, the UK's trade deficit has widened since 2005. See more.
  • Balance of Payments Balance of Payments - Trade in Goods and ServicesReleased quarterly, this chart highlights the balance of payments. This data shows the gap between traded goods and services as well as taking into account flows of investment into and out of the UK. The chart shows that, the UK consistently runs a balance of payment deficit although this deficit has narrowed marginally since 2008. See more.
  • Real GDP - Seasonally Adjusted GDP since 2000, seasonally adjustedReleased quarterly, this chart shows national GDP as an index – 2008 acting as the base year. This allows us to usefully chart the impact of the recession, showing first the steep decline through to the end of 2009, and importantly the subsequent weak recovery. It highlights that economic output has yet to recover to 2008 levels. See more.
  • Real GDP & Quarterly Change % - Seasonally Adjusted Real GDP & Quarterly Growth - Seasonally Adjusted Released quarterly, this chart plots national GDP - indexed against 2008 – and the quarterly changed expressed as a percentage. This captures the weak quarterly growth figures experienced since the end of 2010, rarely exceeding 0.5% growth per quarter. Also see Real GDP - Seasonally Adjusted, Real GDP - Year on Year Change. See more.
  • Real GDP & Year on Year Changes % - Seasonally Adjusted Real GDP (2008 = 100) & Quarterly Change - Year on Year Released quarterly, this chart plots national GDP - indexed against 2008 – and the quarterly changed expressed as a percentage. This captures the weak quarterly growth figures experienced since the end of 2010, rarely exceeding 0.5% growth per quarter. Also see real GDP - seasonally adjusted and real GDP & quarterly change. Page contains links to original ONS data and includes dataset download. See more.
  • GDP - Quarter on Quarter & Year on Year % Change GDP - Quarter-on-Quarter & Year-on-Year % ChangeReleased quarterly, this charts expresses national GDP as quarter-on-quarter and year-on-year changes. As expected, they follow the same broad profile but, interestingly, highlights that the 'profile' of the yearly change is steeper as the cumulative positive or negative quarterly changes takes effect. Also see real GDP - seasonally adjusted and real GDP & quarterly change and year-on-year change. See more.
  • Yearly Inflation - CPI and RPI (Chart 1) Yearly Inflation - CPI and RPIReleased monthly, this chart shows the two main national measures of inflation – the Consumer Price Index and Retail Price Index. This chart shows RPI excluding mortgage interest payments and indirect taxes. It highlights the high levels of inflation – primarily driven by commodity price and VAT increases – began to tail off at the end of 2011. See more.
  • Yearly Inflation - CPI and RPI (Chart 2) Yearly Inflation - CPI and RPIReleased monthly, this chart shows the two main national measures of inflation – the Consumer Price Index and Retail Price Index. This chart shows RPI including mortgage interest payments and indirect taxes. This measurement is higher than the RPI index excluding mortgage interest payments and indirect taxes. Find out more and download the data that sits behind this. See more.
  • PMI - Business Activty Purchasing Managers Index - Business ActivityReleased monthly, this chart highlights the sentiment of a sample of purchasing managers regarding the level of activity at their business. This chart compares the responses of those businesses in the South West with the responses in the national sample. Each month those managers are asked whether their business has seen an increase or decrease in activity and a score is produced.
  • PMI - Employment Purchasing Managers Index - EmploymentReleased monthly, this chart highlights the sentiment of a sample of purchasing managers regarding the employment intentions of their business. This chart compares the responses of those businesses in the South West with the responses in the national sample. Each month those managers are asked whether their business intends to increase or decrease employment and a score is produced.
  • South West PMI - Activity, new business & employment South West PMI - Activity, new business & employmentReleased monthly, this chart highlights the sentiment of a sample of purchasing managers regarding the level of activity, new orders and employment at their business. This chart shows the responses of those businesses in the South West sample. Each month those managers are asked whether their business has seen an increase or decrease in activity, employment intentions or new orders.
  • LEP Vacancies by Industry South West LEPs notified vacancies by industry - July 2012Released monthly, this chart highlights the number of vacancies currently available via Job Centre Plus (JCP) in each of the LEP areas. The data is displayed in broad industrial groups and interestingly shows that, despite the ongoing difficulties in the financial sector, it has the greatest number of vacancies. Some sectors might not advertise vacancies in JCP as others. See more.
  • LEP Vacancies by Occupation LEP Vacancies by Occupation - July 2012Released monthly, this chart highlights the number of vacancies currently available via Job Centre Plus (JCP) in each of the LEP areas. The data is displayed in broad occupational groups and shows the greatest vacancies relate to elementary occupations. This differs slightly in the West of England LEP area where demand is greatest for sales & customer services. See more.
  • South West Notified Vacancies by Occupation South West Vacancies by Occupation Released monthly, this chart highlights the number of vacancies – available via Job Centre Plus (JCP) - available in the South West over time. The data is displayed in broad occupational groups and is not seasonally adjusted – therefore capturing the pre-Christmas demand for elementary occupations. It shows that the monthly series tends to be quite volatile. See more.
  • Local Authority Average Earnings Local Authority Average EarningsReleased annually, this chart highlights the average gross weekly pay for residents in the South West upper tier local authorities and the annual change of that average wage. It shows that the highest earnings remain in the north and east of the region and lowest in peripheral areas such as Torbay and Cornwall. The data is susceptible to wide confidence intervals. See more.
  • South West Industrial Structure - 2011 South West Industrial StructureReleased annually, this chart highlights the South West business stock as broken down by broad industrial groups. It shows that most businesses in the region are in agriculture, construction, retail and professional & scientific. Businesses in these industries tend to be small and therefore it would be expected they are the largest by count.
  • Industrial Structure by Employment Size South West Industry by Employment Size (Economic Chart)Released annually, this chart highlights the South West business stock as expressed by employment size. It shows that the vast majority of SW businesses are small enterprises employing just a few people and their fundamental importance to the health of the overall regional economy. Find out more and access the underlying dataset for this. See more.
  • Claimant Count (Updated April 2013) Claimant Count - South West LEPsReleased monthly, this chart highlights the claimant count rate over time in each of the LEP areas. It shows that they have all followed the same broad profile over the last four years. The claimant rate increased significantly during 2009 as the impact of the financial crisis was felt. It then subsequently fell back (2010) but has been maintained at a level of + 1.5-2% on pre-recession levels. Find out more.
  • LFS & Claimant Count (Updated April 2013) LEP - Unemployment by Working Age PopulationReleased monthly and quarterly, this chart highlights the latest claimant count rate and the ILO defined unemployment rate. The latter measurement is used by many as the true indication of unemployment levels – although it suffers from being a lagged measurement - and the chart shows it is always, often significantly, above the claimant count rate.
  • GVA per head - NUTS 2 GVA per head - NUTS 2Released annually, this chart highlights the latest GVA per head for NUTS 2 areas in the South West. GVA per head is often used as the primary comparative measurement between areas because it takes account of different population sizes. It displays GVA per head and the value relative to the UK average, showing that figures are highest in the Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Bristol/Bath area.
  • GVA per head (UK = 100) - NUTS 2 GVA per head (UK = 100) - NUTS 2Released annually, this chart highlights the latest GVA per head for NUTS 2 areas – as indexed against the UK average - in the South West over time. It shows that relative position of the Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Bristol/Bath area has declined over the previous 9 years, whilst the relative position of Devon and Cornwall has improved.
  • GVA per head - NUTS 3 2009 GVA per head - NUTS 3 2009Released annually, this chart highlights the latest GVA per head for NUTS 3 areas in the South West. GVA per head is often used as the primary comparative measurement between areas because it takes account of different population sizes. It displays GVA per head and the value relative to the UK average, showing that figures are highest in the major urban areas of Swindon and Bristol.
  • GVA per head (UK = 100) - NUTS 3 2009 GVA per head (UK = 100) - NUTS 3Released annually, this chart highlights the latest Gross Value Added (GVA) per head for NUTS 3 areas – as indexed against the UK average - in the South West over time. It shows that relative position of Swindon and Bristol area has declined over the previous 9 years, whilst the relative position of Bournemouth & Poole has improved. This time series has been subject to recent revisions.
  • Public Sector Employment Public Sector Employment Released quarterly, this chart highlights the quarter-on-quarter change to public sector employment in the UK. It highlights that by far the greatest number of jobs have been lost in Local Government, with the pace of job losses increasing in the second half of 2011. In comparison, job losses in Central Government and Public Corporations (encapsulating the part-nationalised banks) have been lower.
  • Indices of Production & Services - seasonally adjusted Indices of Production & Services (2008 = 100) - seasonally adjustedReleased monthly, this chart highlights the national output of the production & services sectors. It is an index with 2008 acting as the base year. In particular, the chart highlights the steep decline in production output during 2008 & 2009. It also shows that, at the end of 2011, production output was still 10% lower than its 2008 level whilst the service sector has only just recovered lost ground.
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