To main content

Investment Survey, first quarter 2020

Investments decreased by SEK 2.5 billion in the first quarter of 2020

Statistical news from Statistics Sweden 2020-05-28 9.30

The investment rate among enterprises slowed significantly in the first quarter of 2020. Variation between different industries was significant. Investments by real estate enterprises decreased by 11 percent, and amounted to SEK 32.9 billion. Investments by enterprises in business services increased by 16 percent and amounted to SEK 4.3 billion.

The outcome of the Investment Survey shows that enterprises’ investments decreased by 3 percent in total, which corresponds to SEK 2.5 billion, in the first quarter of 2020. Total investments in this quarter amounted to SEK 77.9 billion.

Investments per industry divisions, quarter 1 2020 compared to quarter 1 2019
Industry according to NACE Rev2Investments in SEK millions in current prices, first quarter 2020Investments in SEK millions in current prices, first quarter 2019Change between first quarter 2020 and first quarter 2019, in percent
Mining, and quarrying and manufacturing (05-33) 14 950 14 487 3%
Energy, water and sewer (35-39) 10 038 8 755 15%
Construction (41-43) 1 789 1 977 ‑10%
Trade in goods (45-47) 4 667 5 422 ‑14%
Transportation and storage (49, excl. 49.32, 51-53) 4 510 4 097 10%
Information and communication (58, 61-63) 3 563 3 895 ‑9%
Banks and insurance companies (64.1, 65) 954 886 8%
Real estate (68, excl. 68.204) 32 869 36 865 ‑11%
Business services (71-75, 77-82) 4 316 3 729 16%
Total 77 856 80 329 ‑3%

Source: Investment survey first quarter 2020.

Investments decreased in four out of nine industries in the Investment Survey in the first quarter of 2020. In percentage terms, the trade in goods industry decreased most, by 14 percent in total, and amounted to SEK 4.7 billion. Real estate enterprises decreased by 11 percent, which corresponds to SEK 4 billion, and amounted to SEK 32.9 billion. Investments in this industry consisted mainly of new construction, extensions and rebuilding of existing buildings, which accounted for SEK 15.9 billion, while housing accounted for SEK 11.5 billion. Investments by construction enterprises decreased by 10 percent, and amounted to SEK 1.8 billion. Investments by information and communication enterprises decreased by 9 percent, and amounted to SEK 3.6 billion.

Investments increased in remarkably many industries, despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Investments increased the most in the business services industry, by 16 percent, and amounted to SEK 4.3 billion. This was followed by enterprises in energy and water, in which investments increased by 15 percent and amounted to just over SEK 10 billion. Investments also increased in transportation, bank and insurances and mining, quarrying and manufacturing enterprises in the first quarter. Total investments by mining, quarrying and manufacturing enterprises amounted to SEK 14.9 billion, of which investments in machinery and equipment accounted for SEK 12.5 billion.

Investments in housing decreased

Investments by class of assets, Q1 2020

Investments by class of assets, Q1 2020

Enterprises invested mainly in machinery and equipment. This class of assets accounted for 49 percent of total investments in the quarter. This is an increase of 5 percentage points compared with the first quarter of 2019. New construction, extensions and rebuilding of existing buildings accounted for 29 percent of total investments. Housing accounted for 15 percent of total investments, which is a decrease of 4 percentage points compared with the first quarter of 2019. Purchases of buildings and facilities accounted for SEK 5.6 billion, which corresponds to 7 percent, of total investments in the first quarter.

Definitions and explanations

All the data in this statistical news is reported in current prices. All comparisons have been made with the corresponding quarter in 2019.

These statistics are based on data from Statistics Sweden’s Business Register database. All enterprises with at least 200 employees are included, while enterprises with between 20 and 199 employees are sampled. In some activities, enterprises with between 5 and 199 employees are sampled. Enterprises in the mining, quarrying and manufacturing industry sector with between 10 and 19 employees are taxed based on investment information from enterprises with between 20 and 49 employees.

The sectors included in this survey are B–G, SNI 49 (excl. 49.32), 51–53, 58, 61–63, 64.1, 65, 68 (excl. 68.204), 71–75, and 77–82 according to NACE Rev 2.

Next publishing will be

The next statistical news in this series will concern the second quarter and will be published on 2020-08-28 at 09.30.

Statistical Database

More information is available in the Statistical Database

Feel free to use the facts from this statistical news but remember to state Source: Statistics Sweden.

Statistical agency and producer

Statistics Sweden, Business Structure

Address
701 89 Örebro
E-mail
fek.ns@scb.se

Enquiries

Ludmila Lind

Telephone
+46 10 479 63 66
E-mail
ludmila.lind@scb.se