National Business Survey Thank you for taking part in this important survey. Unless otherwise specified, responses to the following questions should only refer to the site mentioned in the letter which accompanies this questionnaire. Please answer as many questions as you can. If you are unable to answer, please tick the ‘don’t know’ or ‘not applicable’ box, or leave it blank.
1
Would you say that overall, your business performance in the past 12 months has improved, remained stable or deteriorated? Improved
2
Partially
To a small extent
Not at all
Over the next 12 months do you expect the business climate in which your business operates to generally improve, remain stable, or deteriorate? Improve
4
Deteriorated
If it has deteriorated, to what extent do you attribute this specifically to the current economic conditions affecting the UK? Fully
3
Remained stable
Remain stable
Deteriorate
Excluding seasonal variations, what has been the trend during the past 12 months, and what are the expected trends for the next 12 months, with regard to… Please tick one box only for each
Past 12 months
Higher Same Lower
5
Next 12 months Not Applicable Higher Same Lower
Domestic orders . . . . . . . . . . . .
Export orders . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Numbers employed . . . . . . . . . .
Volume of output . . . . . . . . . . . .
Prices charged to customers . . . . . .
Staff costs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Profit margins . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cash in the business (Cash Flow) . . .
Not Applicable
Which of the following costs… (A) have increased for your business over the past 12 months? Please tick all that apply (B) do you expect to increase over the next 12 months? Please tick all that apply (C) presents the main upward cost pressure on your business at present? Please tick ONE box only
(A) Past 12 months
(B) Next 12 months
Energy costs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Raw materials and bought-in services (other than energy) . . . . . .
Transport costs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Property costs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Staff costs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cost of finance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Other costs (please write in)
. .
None of these . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
There is no upward cost pressure in my business at present . . . . .
NBS_NWDA questionnaire2.indd 1
(C) Main upward cost pressure at present
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