{"id":"2026-oct-nordic-scotland-business-insights-wave-165-2026","canonicalSlug":"2026-oct-nordic-scotland-business-insights-wave-165-2026","url":"https://wellficent.com/en/news/2026-oct-nordic-scotland-business-insights-wave-165-2026","language":"en","title":"Scottish survey finds energy prices remain a leading business concern","summary":"Weighted BICS estimates put energy concern at 78.5%; 36.9% reported AI use.","body":["Scottish Government estimates from Business Insights and Conditions Survey (BICS) wave 165 show 78.5% of responding businesses were very or somewhat concerned about energy prices. The weighted estimates cover businesses with at least 10 employees and a presence in Scotland; responses relate to 21 September–4 October 2026.","Concern varied by sector: the estimate for transport and storage was 88.4%. The survey also found 36.9% reporting use of artificial intelligence, rising to 75.5% in information and communication. These are survey estimates, not a census of every Scottish firm.","For the next 12 months, 45.6% reported supply-chain concerns. International conflict and shipping disruption were among the leading reported factors, at 31.6% and 22.3%. The percentages describe respondents’ stated concerns and do not measure realised interruptions.","BICS is a repeated business survey and its weighted Scotland estimates use a defined respondent base. The release records reported conditions and expectations during its survey window; it does not establish that energy prices or supply constraints will follow a particular path."],"keyPoints":["78.5% were estimated to be concerned about energy prices; transport and storage was 88.4%.","36.9% reported AI use, including 75.5% in information and communication.","45.6% reported supply-chain concerns for the coming year."],"sections":[],"text":"Scottish survey finds energy prices remain a leading business concern\n\nWeighted BICS estimates put energy concern at 78.5%; 36.9% reported AI use.\n\n78.5% were estimated to be concerned about energy prices; transport and storage was 88.4%.\n\n36.9% reported AI use, including 75.5% in information and communication.\n\n45.6% reported supply-chain concerns for the coming year.\n\nScottish Government estimates from Business Insights and Conditions Survey (BICS) wave 165 show 78.5% of responding businesses were very or somewhat concerned about energy prices. The weighted estimates cover businesses with at least 10 employees and a presence in Scotland; responses relate to 21 September–4 October 2026.\n\nConcern varied by sector: the estimate for transport and storage was 88.4%. The survey also found 36.9% reporting use of artificial intelligence, rising to 75.5% in information and communication. These are survey estimates, not a census of every Scottish firm.\n\nFor the next 12 months, 45.6% reported supply-chain concerns. International conflict and shipping disruption were among the leading reported factors, at 31.6% and 22.3%. The percentages describe respondents’ stated concerns and do not measure realised interruptions.\n\nBICS is a repeated business survey and its weighted Scotland estimates use a defined respondent base. The release records reported conditions and expectations during its survey window; it does not establish that energy prices or supply constraints will follow a particular path.","category":"economy","region":"world","topics":["statistics","ai"],"eventDate":"2026-10-09","eventDateBasis":"source-announcement-publication","publishedAt":"2026-10-09T21:52:15Z","modifiedAt":"2026-10-09T21:52:15Z","publicationBasis":"first-publication","preparedAt":null,"sourcePublishedAt":"2026-10-09","translatedAt":null,"sources":[{"attribution":"© Crown copyright, Scottish Government, BICS Scotland wave 165; logos, graphics and third-party material excluded","checkedAt":"2026-10-09","licence":"Open Government Licence v3.0 (Crown copyright material; exceptions apply)","licenseUrl":"https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/","name":"Scottish Government (gov.scot)","publishedAt":"2026-10-09","url":"https://www.gov.scot/publications/bics-weighted-scotland-estimates-data-to-wave-165/"}],"translations":{"en":"https://wellficent.com/en/news/2026-oct-nordic-scotland-business-insights-wave-165-2026","tr":"https://wellficent.com/tr/news/2026-oct-nordic-scotland-business-insights-wave-165-2026","ar":"https://wellficent.com/ar/news/2026-oct-nordic-scotland-business-insights-wave-165-2026","fr":"https://wellficent.com/fr/news/2026-oct-nordic-scotland-business-insights-wave-165-2026","es":"https://wellficent.com/es/news/2026-oct-nordic-scotland-business-insights-wave-165-2026","ru":"https://wellficent.com/ru/news/2026-oct-nordic-scotland-business-insights-wave-165-2026","pt":"https://wellficent.com/pt/news/2026-oct-nordic-scotland-business-insights-wave-165-2026"},"corrections":[],"locations":[],"type":"news","classification":{"dataKinds":["statistical-release"],"evidenceBasis":["statistical-estimate"],"geographies":[{"countryCode":"GB","role":"economic-scope","subdivisionCode":"GB-SCT"}],"measurementPeriod":{"from":"2026-09-21","precision":"day","to":"2026-10-04"},"version":"1"}}