Our latest Business Impacts of Coronavirus data ask businesses for their experience between 11-24 Jan 2021.

All four nations within the UK were subject to national lockdowns for the duration of the reference and live survey periods http://ow.ly/1fgo50DxtJA 

The proportion of businesses’ workforce on furlough leave increased to 18% in mid-Jan 2021.

This is considerably lower than during the first national lockdown, where 30% of businesses’ workforce were on furlough leave in June 2020 http://ow.ly/3lOD50DxtOs 

The following industries had more than 50% of their workforce on furlough leave:

arts, entertainment and recreation (59%)
accommodation and food service activities (51%)

http://ow.ly/teFe50DxtQ3 

The information and communication industry had the highest proportion of its workforce working remotely instead of at their normal place of work, at 82% http://ow.ly/SFS550DxtRF 

The percentage of businesses currently trading remained low (73%) at the end of Jan 2021.

This data is like early July 2020 levels when #COVID19 restrictions were widespread across the UK.

In comparison, 84% of businesses were trading in mid-Dec 2020 http://ow.ly/kdHU50DxtU7 

8 in 10 businesses currently trading in the accommodation and food service activities industry have experienced a decrease in turnover in the last two weeks.

This is compared with normal expectation for this time of year http://ow.ly/Lxdx50DxtVE 

Of all currently trading businesses:

15% had exported in the last 12 months
14% had imported in the last 12 months

http://ow.ly/n6ov50DxtXS 

The main challenge reported for exporting was changes in transportation costs (34%).

Meanwhile for importing, the most common challenge was disruption at UK borders, at 35%. However, 46% experienced no challenges at all http://ow.ly/Zr7950DxtZ9 

Of businesses currently trading who sent goods from Great Britain and Northern Ireland (both in the last 12 months and last two weeks), 38% saw a decrease in volume of goods sent in the last two weeks http://ow.ly/pdv950Dxu0r