Despite the slowdown in business activity, marginal employment gains were reported, which contrasted with a renewed decline in workforce numbers at large enterprises. SMEs also remained relatively upbeat about their expectations for business activity in the year ahead, with service providers, manufacturers and constructors all forecasting higher output in 2024. Businesses cited confidence about long-term growth opportunities, new product launches, and hopes of a further slowdown in cost inflation.
Input price inflation was also much softer than seen in the first half of 2023. The latest rise in operating expenses was only slightly faster than the 31-month low seen in August, with improving supply chain capacity and falling materials prices helping to offset strong wage pressures and rising fuel bills. Manufacturing sector SMEs nonetheless reported a much slower decline in their purchasing costs than large enterprises, suggesting that a lack of negotiating power with suppliers had limited cost reductions.
SME service providers saw a shallower downturn in business activity than those operating in the manufacturing and construction sectors. Survey respondents noted that subdued consumer confidence and tighter budget setting among clients had constrained activity. Building firms registered the fastest decline in output, with total construction activity decreasing at the steepest pace since May 2020 amid another sharp reduction in housing work. Manufacturing production volumes fell for the second month running during September and the rate of decline was the greatest since October 2022.
This survey’s special feature on long-term sustainability plans revealed that becoming more energy efficient topped the table of SME intentions for the next five years. Around 62% of survey respondents expect to have improved their energy efficiency by 2028. This was followed by switching to greener travel options (49%) and reporting on carbon emissions and environmental impact (48%). Obtaining ESG credentials was the category that firms were the least likely to cite plans, with just 23% of SMEs expecting to invest in the next five years, followed by offsetting carbon emissions (24%).
Sebastian Burnside, NatWest Group Chief Economist, said:
“The latest PMI results show a modest reduction in business activity following a sustained period of growth in the first half of the year. Rising costs have been a continual challenge this year, but positively we are starting to see signs that cost inflation is softening, with improving supply chain capacity and falling materials prices helping to offset strong wage pressures and rising fuel bills. It’s also good to see that businesses are forecasting higher output next year, reflecting their confidence in long-term growth opportunities, new product launches and hopes of a further slowdown in cost inflation.
“After a year of volatile energy prices, it’s understandable that most SMEs are putting energy efficiency at the top of their list of priorities for the next five years, which could help to reduce their utility bills and give them a competitive edge.”
James Holian, Head of Business Banking at NatWest Group, said:
“Throughout 2023, business owners have had their hands full managing a business and economic environment with a high level of uncertainty. Yet despite this, businesses continue to show remarkable resilience. While the environment remains uncertain with inflation and interest rate pressures, there are some positive signs that cost pressures are easing. It’s encouraging to see many businesses are remaining upbeat about the year ahead, with all sectors forecasting higher output in 2024.
“After a period of rising energy prices, it’s unsurprising that the majority of small businesses plan on improving their energy efficiency. We know it can be hard to know where to start on this, and that’s why we are connecting businesses to resources so they can tackle climate change, reduce costs, and grow their businesses. I’d encourage businesses to explore how NatWest’s Carbon Planner can help them to understand and reduce their carbon footprint, and benefit from potential cost savings.”
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About the NatWest Sustainable Business Tracker
The NatWest Sustainable Business Tracker is a quarterly report, designed to monitor business performance and sustainability actions at UK enterprises with 1-249 employees. Results are compiled from responses to S&P Global UK Purchasing Managers’ Index® (PMI®) surveys. We track sustainability actions among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across five main categories. The latest report includes a special feature on long-term sustainability plans across eight different categories.
The panel of around 850 small and medium sized enterprises is stratified by detailed sector, based on contributions to GDP.
Survey responses are collected by S&P Global in the second half of each month and indicate the direction of change compared to the previous month. A diffusion index is calculated for each survey variable. The index is the sum of the percentage of ‘higher’ responses and half the percentage of ‘unchanged’ responses.
The SME PMI® indices vary between 0 and 100, with a reading above 50 indicating an overall increase compared to the previous month, and below 50 an overall decrease. The indices are then seasonally adjusted. Indices are compiled for a range of survey variables, including business activity, new orders, employment, input costs, prices charged, suppliers' delivery times and future activity.
The SME PMI® data for September were collected 12 – 27 September 2023. Historical data are available from January 1998 for the All-Sector SME Business Activity Index. Manufacturing data are available from January 1992, Services data from July 1996 and Construction data from April 1997.
