The Department for Transport and the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles have released key statistics relating to electric vehicles and charging points. Although the data reveals increases overall, it also reveals significant regional differences. As of 1 July 2021: there were 24,374 public electric vehicle charging devices available in the UK of the total devices...
Article Category: Research
How people with a vaccine spent their time
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has released research into how people with a vaccine spent their time – one year on from the first UK lockdown (Great Britain, March 2021). Time Use Survey data explains the differences between how people in Great Britain spent their time during coronavirus restrictions in March and April 2020...
Re-opening of shops and outdoor hospitality pushes GDP growth in April – caravan parks contribute
According to a release from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the UK economy grew by 2.3% in April. This is the fastest monthly growth rate since July 2020 in the aftermath of the first national lockdown. On 12 April, Step 2 of the government’s roadmap out of lockdown was implemented, which allowed non-essential shops, outdoor hospitality venues and...
2021 set to be second ‘staycation’ summer, RAC research reveals
Half of drivers with a foreign trip planned will holiday in the UK instead if overseas travel restrictions remain Car will be central to 2021 holiday plans More than four-in-10 drivers in the UK (43%) already have firm plans for a UK staycation this summer, a figure that could rocket if coronavirus restrictions stop others from taking a holiday abroad, according...
Domestic forecast for Britain updated 7 May
VisitBritain has run a new domestic tourism forecast, which represents a snapshot in time and makes a number of assumptions to provide an estimate of impact. It forecasts £13.5bn in domestic overnight tourism spending – 38% growth on 2020 but only 55% of the 2019 level. The national tourism organisation stresses that subsequent developments could...
Business impacts of Coronavirus
ONS has produced new regional data on the impact of restrictions on businesses up until the beginning of Step 3. The data, as usual, shows that tourism/hospitality is the most impacted sector of the economy but there are marked regional differences. For example, the East Midlands had 79% of hospitality businesses operating between 4-16 May,...
Travel behaviour tracker – behavioural changes in store?
The Department for Transport (DfT) has published its 4th Wave of All Change? research on travel behaviour. While this research is based on surveys undertake in February/March 2021 (and therefore pre-dates easing of lockdown and the release of the overseas travel traffic light system), there is interesting information on people’s transport use and expectations regarding...
ONS survey into happiness of nation – older = happier
In the Office for National Statistics’ most recent survey into Coronavirus and contributors to subnational well-being (January to March 2021) the following was revealed: Over the past year, average happiness for England and Wales was lower than the pre-pandemic (February 2020) average of 7.2; London recorded lower average happiness than rural areas or other urban...
In the polls this week
Pollster YouGov has undertaken research into attitudes towards various aspects of leaving lockdown: Not easy to return to normality: Overall, the general population are split, but lean slightly more towards saying they will find it hard (49%) rather than easy (42%) to adjust when the pandemic eventually comes to an end. There is a split...
Significant impact of coronavirus on tourism businesses shown by ONS study
The GDP (Gross Domestic Product) figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) on 13 April show the severe impact that coronavirus is still having on the UK tourism industry, compared with other sectors of the economy. The figures show that, in comparison to February 2020 (the last full month of ‘normal’ operating conditions):...