Data Alert: SW business conditions - PMI & other surveys - August 2011
This briefing looks at the SW Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) for July which confirms that the global picture is prevalent in SW England. Business activity is barely positive, with the region seemingly weaker than other parts of the United Kingdom over the last three months.
Foreign ownership of businesses in the United Kingdom - Latest ONS data - May 2011
In April 2011, the Office for National Statistics released data on the foreign ownership of businesses in the United Kingdom. This briefing looks at the figures to see how the South West performs in comparison to the national average and how the South West's Local Authorities fit into the regional picture. It particularly focuses on employment figures to measure the extent of the impact of foreign ownership on the South West economy.
Business Population Estimates for the UK and Regions 2010 - The Structure of Private Sector - May 2011
BIS released a new statistical product called the Business Population Estimates for UK and the Regions. This replaces the series called SME Statistics which covered the period from 1994 to 2009. This Data Alert draws attention to the various changes that make the two series not directly comparable and looks at how this data alters our understanding of the structure of the South West’s private sector.
South West Trade 2010: UK Regional Trade Statistics - Latest HMRC Release - March 2011
This briefing looks at the regional trade statistics for the final quarter of 2010 and focuses on the figures for the South West's imports and exports. Between 2009 and 2010, the South West's percentage increase in exports exceeded that of all other English regions. With the recent focus on creating growth through exporting, this paper assesses the South West's current position and looks at future prospects.
Business Demography 2009, Latest ONS Release - December 2010
The Office for National Statistics has recently released data on business births, deaths and survival rates for 2009. These data enable us to look at how the recession has affected the number of new businesses, the rate at which businesses cease operations and how long new businesses survive. This briefing focuses on trends in the South West.
Business Expenditure on Research & Development, Latest regional statistics - December 2010
The Office for National Statistics has just released 2009 figures for research and development (R&D) expenditure by UK business, including some regional information. R&D can be an early loser in times of economic downturn as firms look to cut non-essential spending. It is interesting therefore to look at the effect of the recent recession on these statistics. This briefing summarises the key findings for the South West.
Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs), Latest ONS Release - November 2010
The Department of Business, Innovation and Skills released Small and Medium-sized Enterprise (SME) Statistics for the UK and Regions 2009 on 13th October 2010. These statistics include estimates for unregistered enterprises, giving a more accurate picture of SME activity. The data capture the beginning of the recession and show a rise in the number of enterprises in the South West.
UK Business: Activity, Size and Location, Latest ONS Release - October 2010
In September ONS published the UK Business: Activity, Size and Location 2010 report, giving a snapshot of 99% of UK business activity in March 2010. The data shows that although there has been a decline in South West business activity through the recession, the region has performed better than some. Within the region, some areas have been hit harder by the recession, in particular there has been a fall in the number of small and young firms.