Energy prices remain one of the leading concerns for Scottish businesses.
The Scottish Government’s Business Insights and Conditions Survey for Scotland, wave 162, covers businesses with 10 or more employees and a presence in Scotland. The data covers the survey period from 3 August to 16 August 2026.
For September 2026, the top concerns reported by businesses were falling demand, at 14.9 per cent, and energy prices, at 14.6 per cent. An estimated 13.4 per cent of businesses reported no concerns.
When asked directly about energy prices, 76.4 per cent of businesses said they were very or somewhat concerned.
The figure was higher in some sectors. In Transport and Storage, 79.7 per cent of businesses were very or somewhat concerned about energy prices. In Accommodation and Food Services, the figure was 81.7 per cent.
Fuel prices produced a similar pattern. An estimated 73.5 per cent of Scottish businesses were very or somewhat concerned about increases in fuel prices. The figure rose to 86.8 per cent in Construction and 90.7 per cent in Transport and Storage.
Prices Bought And Prices Sold
The survey records cost pressure inside business supply chains.
For an estimated 26.3 per cent of businesses, the prices of goods or services bought in July 2026 had increased compared with June 2026. During the same period, 11.2 per cent of businesses increased the prices of goods and services they sold.
For September 2026, 11.8 per cent of businesses expected to increase prices. Among businesses considering price increases, the top reported factors were labour costs at 30.1 per cent and energy prices at 27.1 per cent.
The figures record a gap between input-price movement and selling-price movement. They do not identify business margins directly, but they show the categories through which businesses are reporting pressure.
Turnover also shifted during the period. Around 23.6 per cent of businesses reported increased turnover in July 2026 compared with the previous month. That was down from 32.2 per cent in June 2026 and 30.6 per cent in July 2025.
In August 2026, 27.7 per cent of businesses expected business performance to increase over the next 12 months. An estimated 9.8 per cent expected it to decrease.
The Energy Record Around The Survey
The BICS figures were published during a period in which Scotland’s energy record is being measured in several ways.
The Scottish Government’s Energy Statistics for Scotland for quarter one of 2026 recorded renewable electricity generation of 13.4 TWh in the first quarter. Earlier quarter four 2025 statistics recorded the scale of Scotland’s renewable electricity planning pipeline.
Scotland’s draft Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan, published in 2023, set out a planned route toward a transformed energy system, including renewable generation, supply chains, hydrogen, energy demand reduction and a move away from fossil-fuel dependence.
Businesses experience that wider energy system through contract prices, fuel bills, transport costs, heating, cooling, refrigeration, production, delivery and customer demand.
The BICS release does not measure ownership of generation, exposure to electricity-market design, business contracts, network charges or the connection between Scottish renewable output and individual business bills.
It records reported concern and price experience among businesses during the survey period.
Recent Survey Pattern
The August Scottish Economic Bulletin recorded that BICS data from July showed the share of businesses expecting to increase prices had fallen for a third consecutive month. It also noted that energy prices and transportation or haulage costs as factors for price rises had risen following the increase in oil and gas prices since March, then eased as prices moderated in June and July.
Wave 160 of the BICS Scotland release, covering 6 July to 19 July 2026, recorded labour costs and energy prices as the top factors for businesses considering price increases in August 2026, at 30.9 per cent and 27.6 per cent respectively.
Wave 162 records similar categories for September, with labour costs at 30.1 per cent and energy prices at 27.1 per cent among businesses considering price increases.
The series therefore places energy costs within a continuing business-cost record rather than a single monthly result.
The Wider Scottish Economy
The BICS publication was released the day after Scotland’s first estimate of GDP for the second quarter of 2026. That release recorded 0.7 per cent growth in Scotland’s onshore economy during April to June.
The two releases describe different parts of the economy.
GDP records output. BICS records reported business conditions and expectations. Together they show an economy with increased output during the second quarter and continuing business concern about falling demand, energy prices, fuel prices and labour costs.
The next BICS Scotland publication, with data to wave 163, is scheduled for 10 September 2026.
Sources
Business Insights and Conditions in Scotland (wave 162): 27 August 2026, 27 August 2026
https://www.gov.scot/publications/bics-weighted-scotland-estimates-data-to-wave-162/
Business Insights and Conditions in Scotland (wave 162) — Business Concerns, 27 August 2026
https://www.gov.scot/publications/bics-weighted-scotland-estimates-data-to-wave-162/pages/business-concerns/
Business Insights and Conditions in Scotland (wave 162) — Prices, 27 August 2026
https://www.gov.scot/publications/bics-weighted-scotland-estimates-data-to-wave-162/pages/prices/
Business Insights and Conditions in Scotland (wave 162) — Turnover, 27 August 2026
https://www.gov.scot/publications/bics-weighted-scotland-estimates-data-to-wave-162/pages/turnover/
Business Insights and Conditions in Scotland (wave 162) — Business Performance, 27 August 2026
https://www.gov.scot/publications/bics-weighted-scotland-estimates-data-to-wave-162/pages/business-performance/
Business Insights and Conditions in Scotland (wave 160): 30 July 2026, 30 July 2026
https://www.gov.scot/publications/bics-weighted-scotland-estimates-data-to-wave-160/
Business Insights and Conditions in Scotland (wave 160) — Prices, 30 July 2026
https://www.gov.scot/publications/bics-weighted-scotland-estimates-data-to-wave-160/pages/prices/
Scottish Economic Bulletin: August 2026 — Business Conditions, August 2026
https://www.gov.scot/publications/scottish-economic-bulletin-august-2026/pages/5/
Energy Statistics for Scotland — Q1 2026, July 2026
https://www.gov.scot/publications/energy-statistics-for-scotland-q1-2026/
Energy Statistics for Scotland — Q4 2025, April 2026
https://www.gov.scot/publications/energy-statistics-for-scotland-q4-2025/
Draft Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan, 10 January 2023
https://www.gov.scot/publications/draft-energy-strategy-transition-plan/
