Annual Business Inquiry

Details on the conduct and results of the Northern Ireland Annual Business Inquiry.

 

 

Headline results

Latest results from the Northern Ireland Annual Business Inquiry published today (24th January) are highlighted below:

Key Points

  • In 2022, the income generated by non-financial businesses in Northern Ireland (NI), less the cost of goods and services used to create this income, was estimated to be £33.3 billion. This amount represents the approximate Gross Value Added (aGVA) at basic prices of the NI non-financial business economy, excluding farming and financial services.
  • aGVA at Basic prices represents the income generated by businesses, out of which is paid wages and salaries, the cost of capital investment and financial charges before arriving at a figure for profit.

Change between 2021-22

  • The NI non-financial business economy, as measured by the Northern Ireland Annual Business Inquiry (NIABI), recorded an increase of £2.7 billion (8.8%) in aGVA from 2021 to 2022.
  • The key driver of aGVA growth was the Construction sector (Section F) which increased by £976 million (28.0%). The NI Services Industries sector (industry Sections H-S) increased by £971 million (8.2%) between 2021 and 2022. The majority of aGVA growth in this sector is attributable to the Administrative and Support services section (Section N) which increased by £532 million (28.8%).
  • Professional, Scientific and Technical services within the non-financial services sector (Section M) recorded aGVA growth of £352 million (13.6%). The Distribution sector (Section G) also increased by £355 million (4.8%).
  • The Production sector (Sections B-E) showed an increase in aGVA of £378 million (4.9%) from £7.8 billion to £8.2 billion.
  • Turnover (i.e. the value of total sales and work done) in the NI non-financial business economy as a whole increased by £6.5 billion (8.2%) over the year to £85.2 billion and purchases of goods, materials, energy, water and services increased by £3.6 billion (7.1%) to £54.0 billion.

Data from the 2021 Annual Business Inquiry is available on the NISRA data portal here.

Current publication and tables 

NI ABI Questionnaire

For details of changes to the NI Annual Business Inquiry questionnaire for survey year 2014 please see the link below:

NI ABI Questionnaire Guidance Notes

For guidance notes to assit in completing the Annual Business Inquiry questionnaire please follow the link below:

Usage, methods & quality and revisions policy

Archive data

Related statistics

ABI background information

Explanations of methodology and detailed descriptions of terminology

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ABI sample coverage

Details of Annual Business Inquiry sample coverage.

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