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Publication - Statistics

Business Insights and Conditions in Scotland (wave 145): 11 December 2025

Published
11 December 2025
Directorate
Chief Economist Directorate
Topic
Business, industry and innovation, Economy

Business Insights and Conditions Survey (BICS) weighted Scotland data up to survey period 17 November to 30 November 2025 (Wave 145). The BICS provides statistics on how current conditions are affecting businesses in Scotland, including impact on financial performance, workforce, trade and resilience.

Part of

Supporting documents

United States Tariffs

In November 2025, businesses were asked what impact, if any, United States tariffs had on their business in the last month.

Figure 2: Around one in ten (10.5%) businesses had been impacted by US tariffs in the last month. The Information & Communication sector had the highest share affected in the last month (20.2%).

Estimated share of businesses impacted by United States tariffs in the last month. Businesses not permanently stopped trading with 10+ employees and a presence in Scotland. Wave 145 (17 November to 30 November 2025).

A bar chart showing that an estimated 10.5% of businesses were impacted by US tariffs in the last month. The Information & Communication sector had the highest share impacted in the last month (20.2%).

Source: BICS weighted Scotland estimates - data to Wave 145 from the Scottish Government. For Figure 2 data see table ‘USTariffsImpact’.

Businesses that had exported goods in the last 12 months were more likely to have been impacted by US tariffs. An estimated 25.6% of goods exporters were impacted by tariffs in the last month, compared to 10.5% of all businesses.

Figure 3: For goods exporters, the most-reported impacts of US tariffs were that the business experienced additional costs (16.0%) and reduced demand (9.3%).

Estimated share of businesses by impact of United States tariffs in the last month. Businesses currently trading with 10+ employees and a presence in Scotland, and who exported goods in the last 12 months. Wave 145 (17 November to 30 November 2025).

A bar chart showing that for goods exporters, the most-reported impacts of US tariffs in the last month were that the business experienced additional costs (16.0%) and reduced demand (9.3%). An estimated 54.1% of goods exporters reported no impact on the business.

Source: BICS weighted Scotland estimates - data to Wave 145 from the Scottish Government. For Figure 3 data see table ‘USImpact_GoodsExporters’.

Contact

For enquiries about this publication please contact:
Marina Curran
Business & Innovation Statistics
Office of the Chief Economic Adviser
email: industrystatistics@gov.scot

For general enquiries about Scottish Government statistics please contact:
Office of the Chief Statistician
email: statistics.enquiries@gov.scot

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