Notes for editors
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. The latest report includes a special feature on renewable energy investment plans across six categories.
For more information, please contact:
Lucy Chislett
Media Relations Manager
07974864900
lucy.chislett@natwest.com
Notes to editors
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 renewable energy investment plans for the year-ahead.
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 March were collected 12 – 27 March 2024. 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.
SME Sustainability PMI® data are compiled on a quarterly basis. The SME PMI® data are compiled on a monthly basis. The latest SME Sustainability PMI data were collected in March 2024. In each survey, companies are asked what sustainability plans they are looking to prioritise over the next year, and the results are compared against those seen for large companies.
For further information on the PMI survey methodology, please contact economics@spglobal.com.
About NatWest Group
NatWest Group is a relationship bank for a digital world. We champion potential; breaking down barriers and building financial confidence so the 19 million people, families and businesses we serve in communities throughout the UK and Ireland can rebuild and thrive. If our customers succeed, so will we.
About S&P Global
S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI) S&P Global provides essential intelligence. We enable governments, businesses and individuals with the right data, expertise and connected technology so that they can make decisions with conviction. From helping our customers assess new investments to guiding them through ESG and energy transition across supply chains, we unlock new opportunities, solve challenges and accelerate progress for the world.
We are widely sought after by many of the world’s leading organizations to provide credit ratings, benchmarks, analytics and workflow solutions in the global capital, commodity and automotive markets. With every one of our offerings, we help the world’s leading organizations plan for tomorrow, today.
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