BICS weighted Scotland estimates: data to wave 130

Latest main findings for businesses with 10+ employees and a presence in Scotland

• the main concerns for businesses for May 2025 were taxation (16.3%) and falling demand of goods and services (14.7%); an estimated 15.4% of businesses had no concerns
• for an estimated 37.2% of businesses, the prices of materials, goods or services bought in March 2025 had increased compared with the previous month; up from 28.4% seeing an increase in February 2025 and the highest percentage since May 2023
• 22.2% of businesses increased the prices of goods or services they sold in March 2025 compared with the previous month; up from 15.5% that increased prices in February 2025 and the highest percentage since April 2023
• an estimated 40.3% of businesses were expecting to increase the prices of goods and services sold in May 2025; labour costs was the top factor for businesses considering price increases (reported by 56.3%)
• between February 2025 and March 2025 turnover increased for an estimated 41.1% of businesses, up from an estimated 27.5% that saw increased turnover in the previous month
• in April 2025, an estimated 31.5% of businesses expected their business performance to increase over the next 12 months

Note that the next BICS Scotland publication, with data to Wave 131, is scheduled for release on Thursday 15 May 2025.