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Home -> Policy News -> Doncaster Economic Review Q3 2010 Fieldwork

Doncaster Economic Review Q3 2010 Fieldwork

Each quarter, Doncaster Chamber undertakes economic research in order to accurately assess the state of the local economy and inform policy recommendations to local, regional and national Government.

The resulting publication forms part of the Chamber's offer and service to members; however, the results are also highly valued by local, regional and national partners and often inform decision making.

Each quarter, over 5,600 businesses – belonging to Chambers of Commerce in every region of the country – participate in this research. Businesses are questioned on a wide range of issues, including home sales and orders, export sales and orders, employment prospects, investment, recruitment difficulties, cash-flow, confidence and price pressures.

Results of the fieldwork consistently mirror trends in the national economy and, as a result, are often referenced by the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee, the body that sets interest rates in the UK.

Locally, the survey is distributed to all businesses in Chamber membership. We can expect a typical response rate of 500 businesses – 41% of all Chamber members – making this research the most credible economic indicator available to Doncaster.

Daniel Fell, Head of Policy at Doncaster Chamber of Commerce, commented:

“The results of the last economic review showed that, 21% of businesses are reporting price rises in the coming quarter, down from 24% in the previous quarter, but still high given the level of spare capacity in the economy. This, once again, highlights the significance of the stubbornly high rate of inflation. 91% of all businesses will, at the very least, be maintaining the price of their products over the next three months. 17% of businesses reported pressure from the high cost of raw materials, up from 14% in the previous quarter. The Chamber is concerned that the low pound is increasing the cost of importing raw materials from the continent – thus negating the effect of the low pound on exports.

This latest research will help to identify what we can expect to see as the year progresses and whether the excess levels of capacity in the economy will help to tame inflation or indeed, if we are set to enter a secondary recession.”

To participate in the economic review fieldwork, please click here

To access the full Doncaster Economic Review for Quarter 2 of 2010, please click here