The Small Business Index (SBI) in Scotland declined in Q3 2023, dropping by 18.5 points to reach -30.2. The negative reading means that the number of Scottish small businesses expecting their performance to improve over the coming quarter is exceeded by the number expecting their performance to worsen.
- Small business sentiment in Scotland was negative for a second consecutive quarter, having recorded -11.7 in Q2
- The UK-wide SBI remained in negative territory in Q3.
- Scotland’s SBI reading was the second most pessimistic amongst UK nations and regions.