Service sector survey
The survey is the newest of the CBI's portfolio of business surveys, developed in 1998 for the UK and in 2002 for the European Commission supply
Want to take part in our business surveys? Contact the team
The survey covers 40 sectors of the UK busines, professional and consumer service activity. This survey is completed by chief executives and senior partners.
It provides key data from the most homogeneous component of the UK private sector economy where UK services now account for around 78% of UK GVA (gross value-added statistic ONS 2009). The survey is conducted on a quarterly basis in February, May, August and November and covers a broad range of activities that include accountancy to leisure and software design, publishing, telecoms, hotels and passenger transport. Like our other business surveys, this survey information is crucial for all senior executives in the sector and for economic analysts in general to gain a wide perspective about the short and medium-term health of the macro-economy and for main business, professional and consumer services activity.
The survey covers a broad range of macro-economic issues such as business optimism, value and volume of business, charges, costs and profitability, employment and training, investment, business prospects and competitiveness regarding domestic, EU and non-EU markets.
The survey is classified according to the official Standard Industrial Classification (SIC 2007) and the survey weights are now updated on an annual basis.
The processed responses convert to raw weighted data from which are derived percentage balances. The percentage balance statistic is the figure derived from the difference between the weighted percentage of companies answering in the positive, minus the percentage replying in the negative. This allows a single number with a plus or minus value to thus represent the answer to any question. Since most of the questions refer to changes in the level of a variable, the absolute value of a balance will give a guide to the change in the variable concerned.
All participants receive a free digest of the latest results of the survey.
News and publications
Business confidence rises in service sector as activity picks up - CBI survey
Business activity in the service sector improved over the three months to May and optimism rose, according to the CBI’s quarterly Service Sector Survey
Business confidence growing in service sector
Business confidence is growing in the UK service sector, but the overall outlook remains mixed, according to the CBI
Service sector activity disappoints
Business conditions in the UK services sector remained testing, as previous expectations for stronger activity failed to materialise, the CBI has said
Signs of stabilisation in UK service sector - CBI
Business conditions in the UK service sector are showing signs of stabilising, the CBI said today
Service sector survey Q4 2011
Business conditions weakened for the UK services sector in the three months to February, the CBI's Q4 2011 service sector survey revealed
Service sector survey Q3 2011
Conditions worsening in UK services sector
Service sector survey Q2 2011
Business contracts across UK service sector
Service sector survey Q1 2011
Gap widens in fortunes of UK service sector
Service sector survey Q4 2010
Mixed fortunes for UK services sector
Want to participate in our business surveys? How to get involved
