UK businesses fully trading: wholesale & retail
UK businesses fully trading: wholesale & retail stood at 83.2% in Aug 2026, according to ONS — Business Insights and Conditions Survey (BICS). It is one of the indicators in the Business trading status (BICS) table (Value · Monthly), with a complete series running from Sep 2021 to Aug 2026. The complete series with an interactive chart, free to download.
This indicator in the Business trading status (BICS) table
| Indicator | 08-2026 | 07-2026 | 06-2026 | 05-2026 | 04-2026 | 03-2026 | 02-2026 | 01-2026 | 12-2025 | 11-2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Currently fully trading | |||||||||||
| Wholesale & retail trade | 83.2 | 84 | 84.4 | 88.4 | 87 | 87.7 | 91.4 | 85.8 | 87.9 | 85.8 | |
| Transportation & storage | 94 | 87 | 87 | 90.6 | 84.7 | 94.5 | 89.7 | 81.3 | 84.5 | 83.1 |
Understanding UK businesses fully trading: wholesale & retail
Merchants, supermarkets, boutique shops, and distribution networks across the United Kingdom engaging in the sale of goods directly to consumers or business clients constitute the focus of this indicator. The percentage covers enterprises reporting normal commercial trading, excluding establishments that have temporarily halted operations or closed permanently. This category bridges wholesale distributors and high-street retailers, capturing the commercial movement of physical merchandise across the supply chain.
Seasonality plays a dominant role in retail and wholesale statistics, requiring careful distinction between routine post-holiday trading adjustments and genuine economic shifts. Early survey results are frequently adjusted as high-volume retail chains finalise their operational status returns. Analysts comparing this indicator with retail sales values should note that a firm can maintain fully trading status despite significant drops in customer footfall or transaction values. Year-on-year comparisons help smooth out predictable shopping peaks tied to annual holiday periods.
Frequently asked questions
- Does this wholesale and retail series include online-only trading businesses?
- Yes, e-commerce enterprises registered under the relevant wholesale and retail classifications are fully integrated alongside physical shopfronts.
- Why might trading status percentages remain high while retail sales volumes fall?
- A shop can remain fully open for business during normal hours even when customers spend less money per visit.
- How are seasonal shopping events accounted for in these figures?
- Users should compare corresponding months across different years to evaluate genuine structural changes rather than relying solely on consecutive monthly shifts.