The Scottish economy [November 1987]

Between them, the Scottish Chambers' Business Survey (SCBS) and the CBI's Industrial Trends Survey provide a reasonable guide to recent and current trends in the Scottish economy. Both Surveys are carried out on a quarterly basis with the results being derived from the responses of Chambers of Commerce and CBI members respectively. In addition to eliciting information from different sources the Surveys also differ to a degree in the questions while each asks and the analysis of the replies. For example, the CBI provides information on trends by size of firm which the SCBS presents a geographical breakdown. However, the key difference is in the industrial coverage of the Surveys. Whereas the SCBS covers firms in construction, wholesaling, retailing, financial institutions and manufacturing, the CBI Survey covers only the last of these