Employment fell sharply in the service sector in the three months to August, while volumes and profitability also continued to drop, according to the latest quarterly CBI Service Sector Survey.

Optimism was mixed last quarter with business and professional services reporting a small uptick in sentiment, while the sentiment in consumer services deteriorated less sharply. This followed a record decline in business sentiment in both sub-sectors in the three months to May.

Business volumes across the sector continued to fall in the three months to August, but at a slightly slower pace.

Both sub-sectors expect the decline in business volumes to ease in the three months to November.

Meanwhile, costs per person fell at the sharpest pace in survey history in business & professional services, while costs in consumer services were unchanged. Costs across both sub-sectors are expected to return to growth over the next three months.

Prices fell across the services sector in the three months to August. Business & professional services firms expect prices to decline at a similar pace next quarter, while consumer services expect prices to fall at a slightly slower rate.

The survey also shows that profitability continued to fall in the three months to August, with both sub-sectors reporting the second most negative balance in survey history. Profits are tipped to fall further next quarter, but at a slightly slower pace across the service sector.

Services employment took a hit in the three months to August with business & professional firms reporting steep declines in headcount this quarter, at the fastest rate since May 2009. Consumer services saw employment plunge at the fastest pace on record. Next quarter, employment is set to continue to fall, but the rate of decline is set to ease slightly.

The outlook for investment intentions remains bleak with business & professional firms expecting to cut back on vehicles, plant & machinery, land & buildings and training over the next twelve months, although IT investment is expected to increase. Consumer services firms expect to cut back on investment in all categories. Companies highlighted inadequate net return and uncertainty about demand as the biggest factors weighing on investment, with uncertainty about demand at its highest since the financial crisis.

Ben Jones, CBI Principal Economist, said: 

“This quarter has shown some worrying falls in volumes, profitability and employment for the services sector. Although the pace of these declines is expected to ease, it’s clear that the services sector still faces challenges in terms of demand, revenues and cash flow.

“There is also a clear divergence by sub-sector, with consumer services seeing a particularly severe hit to activity and employment. Meanwhile, although business and professional services appear to be holding up slightly better in comparison, future challenges include what our trading relationship will look like with the EU next year.

“As we head into the autumn, the UK needs a bold plan to protect jobs as the job retention scheme draws to an end, to support the services sector.”

Key findings

Business and professional services

• Sentiment about the general business situation improved after the most negative balance since November 2008 in the quarter to May (+9% from -79% in May)
• Business volumes fell sharply in the three months to August, but at a slightly slower pace than the previous quarter (-32% from -62% in May). Volumes are set to stabilise next quarter (-1%)
• Costs fell at the sharpest pace in survey history (-30% from -5%) in the three months to August, with expectations for costs to return to growth next quarter (+6%)
• Average selling prices continued to fall quickly (-17% from -19%), with expectations for a similar decline next quarter (-19%)
• Profitability fell at the second fastest pace on record in the three months to August (-46% from -53% in May), with profitability expected to fall more slowly over the next quarter (-30%)
• Employment dropped at the quickest rate since May 2009 (-32% from -9%) with headcount over the quarter ahead expected to continue to fall, but at a slower pace (-18%)
• Firms expect to cut back on land and buildings (-32%), vehicles, plant & machinery (-19%) and training (-22%) over the year ahead. IT investment is set to increase (+28%)
• Inadequate net return (+35%) and uncertainty about demand (+70%, highest since financial crisis) were the two biggest factors weighing on investment.

Consumer services

• Optimism about the general business situation deteriorated but at a slower pace than in May (-20% from -86%)
• Business volumes continued to decline in the three months to August (-64% from -83%), with the pace of decline set to ease further next quarter (-42%)
• Costs were unchanged in the three months to August (+3% from -13%) with expectations for growth to accelerate in the next quarter (+25%
• Average selling prices declined at a similar pace to the previous quarter, which was the sharpest rate on record (-27% from -30%), with a slower decline expected in the three months to November (-12%)
• Profitability continued to fall, the second most negative balance on record (-81% from -83%) and profits are expected fall further next quarter, albeit at a slightly slower rate (-56%)
• Employment fell at the fastest pace on record (-63% from -31%), with headcount set to decline at a slower pace next quarter (-48%)
• Consumer services firms expect to cut back on spending in all investment categories: land and buildings (-58%, weakest since February 2003), IT (-38%, survey record low), vehicles, plant and machinery (-51%) and training (-61%, record low)
• Inadequate net return (+58%) and uncertainty about demand (+77%, highest on record) were the two biggest factors weighing on investment

Notes to editors:

The August 2020 CBI service sector survey was conducted between 29 July and 14 August. 178 business & professional firms and 84 consumer services firms replied.

About the CBI:

Across the UK, the CBI speaks on behalf of 190,000 businesses of all sizes and sectors. The CBI’s corporate members together employ nearly 7 million people, about one third of private sector-employees. With offices in the UK as well as representation in Brussels, Washington, Beijing and Delhi, the CBI communicates the British business voice around the world.

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