How's Business 2022

December 2022

December saw 63% of all businesses experiencing a decrease in visitors/customers and 60% reporting a decrease in their turnover, decreases of -11% in each case compared with 2019 (pre-pandemic).  This performance compares with -10% for visitors and -12% for turnover for the region as a whole during December.

For 2022 as a whole, 54% of businesses reported decreased visitors and 47% decreased turnover compared with 2019 (decreases of -9 & -1% for visitors and turnover respectively compared with 2019 and compared with -7% and +1% for the region as a whole).  When compared with their 2021 performance, 58% and 57% of businesses reported decreased visitors/customers and turnover for 2022 as a whole respectively (decreases of -14% and -13% for visitors and turnover respectively compared with 2021 and compared with -9% in each case for the region as a whole for the same period).

Businesses continued to be most concerned about rising energy costs (85%), about the increase in the cost of living generally and the about decreasing visitor numbers/booking levels (73% in each case).

At 5.20 out of 10, optimism amongst businesses has increased for the first time since October.  Download the full report here.

November 2022

November saw 51% of all businesses experiencing a decrease in visitors/customers and 46% reporting a decrease in their turnover – a change of -4% and -3% in each case compared with 2019 (pre-pandemic). This performance compares with -6% for visitors and -3% for turnover for the region as a whole during November. Download the full report here.

October 2022

October saw over half of all businesses (58%) experiencing a decrease in visitors/customers and 53% reporting a decrease in their turnover - a change of -9% in each case compared with 2019 (pre-pandemic).  This performance compares with -11% for visitors and -7% for turnover for the region as a whole during October.

At 5.02 out of 10, optimism amongst businesses has decreased again compared to last month and remains at its lowest level to date over the last 12 months. Download the full report here.

September 2022

September saw over half of all businesses (52%) experiencing a decrease in visitors/customers and a change of -16% compared with 2019 (pre-pandemic). 47% of businesses reported an decrease in their turnover, although a smaller decrease of -10% compared with the same time during 2019.

75% of businesses anticipated decreased bookings for October, 72% for November and 64% for December compared with 2019 levels, although this may change as we collect data for these months.

Businesses continued to be most concerned about rising energy costs (87%) and about the increase in the cost of living generally (71%) along with 68% who are most concerned about decreases in visitor numbers/booking levels. Download the full report here.

August 2022

Whilst 37% of all businesses reported experiencing a decrease in visitors/customers and a change of -5% compared with 2019 (pre-pandemic),  45% of businesses reported an increase in their turnover with no change compared with the same time during 2019 – the first time this has happened this year with regards to turnover.  This performance compares with -7% for visitors and -1% for turnover for the region as a whole during August with the English Riviera performing slightly better than the region during August.

At 5.89 out of 10, optimism amongst businesses has decreased to its lowest level to date this year with growing concerns about energy costs in particular. Download the full report here.

July 2022

July 2022 saw decreases for both visitors and turnover again but, like last month, English Riviera performance similar to the South West regional performance overall. 44% of businesses anticipated decreased bookings for August compared with 2019 levels, whilst 51% and 71% of businesses respectively anticipated the same for September and October.  However, this may change by the time we collect data for these months.

91% of businesses are most concerned about rising energy costs, 73% about the increase in the cost of living generally and 68% about increases in other business costs e.g. food and other supplies etc. At 6.07 out of 10, optimism amongst businesses has decreased compared with the last couple of months. Download the full report here.

June 2022

Whilst June saw 47% of businesses reporting a decrease in visitors/customers and a -7% change compared with the same time in 2019 (pre-pandemic), the percentage change in turnover was much less at -3% compared with 2019 (pre-pandemic) with fewer businesses reporting a decrease (35%).

41% of businesses anticipated decreased bookings for July compared with 2019 levels, whilst 43% and 55% of businesses respectively anticipated the same for August and September however, this may change as we move further into the year.

91% of businesses are most concerned about rising energy costs, 82% about increases in other business costs e.g. food and other supplies etc. and/or 63% in the increase in the cost of living generally. Download the full report here.

May 2022

Once again, May saw the largest proportions of all businesses experiencing a decrease in visitors/customers and turnover (49% and 44% respectively) compared with 2019 (pre-pandemic) with changes of -12% and -9% in visitors and turnover respectively.

25% of businesses reported better than expected business levels over the Platinum Jubilee bank holiday weekend, whilst the majority (51%) said their business levels during this period were as they would usually expect at this time of the year and a quarter said they were worse than expected. 48% of businesses anticipated decreased bookings for

June compared with 2019 levels, whilst 58% and 57% of businesses respectively anticipated the same for July and August. However, this may change as we move further into the year.

87% of businesses are most concerned about rising energy costs, 76% about increases in other business costs e.g. food and other supplies etc. and/or 65% in the increase in the cost of living generally. Download the report here.

April 2022

Despite the Easter holidays falling during April this year around half of all businesses experienced a decrease in visitors/customers and turnover with changes of -10% and -6% in visitors and turnover respectively compared with 2019 (pre-pandemic).

Anticipated bookings for May, June and July would appear to show a similar picture with around three fifths of all businesses in each case predicting decreased bookings compared with 2019 levels. However, this may change as we move further into the year.

83% of businesses are most concerned about rising energy costs, 71% about decreasing visitor numbers / booking levels and 70% in each case about the increase in the cost of living generally and increases in other business costs e.g. food and other supplies etc.  Download the report here.

March 2022

As the country continues its recovery post the pandemic, business levels were again less positive during March with decreases for both visitors and turnover recorded in this months survey of -3% and -4% respectively and the sector has yet to achieve the pre-Covid levels of businesses experienced in 2019. Download the report here.

January & February 2022

54% of businesses said their business was open for the whole of January whilst 13% said their business had been open for part of the month and 33% said their business was closed for the whole of the month.

Businesses were operating at -22% turnover levels compared to January 2019. Please note that a comparison with January 2019 was used as it was not affected by the impacts of Covid-19 (unlike January 2020). Download the report here.