To main content

Investment Survey, third quarter 2020

Enterprises decreased investments in the third quarter of 2020

Statistical news from Statistics Sweden 2020-12-04 9.30

The investment rate among enterprises slowed significantly in the third quarter of 2020 compared with the third quarter of 2019. Investments by real estate enterprises decreased by SEK 4.6 billion, and amounted to SEK 29.8 billion. On the other hand, manufacturing enterprises increased investments by SEK 1.3 billion compared with the third quarter of 2019.

The outcome of the Investment Survey shows that enterprises’ investments decreased by 6 percent in total, which corresponds to SEK 5.2 billion, in the third quarter of 2020 compared to the corresponding quarter a year ago. Total investments in this period amounted to SEK 75.3 billion, down by 9 percent, which corresponds to 7.7 billion, compared with the second quarter of 2020.

Investments by industry groupings, quarter 3 2020 compared with quarter 3 2019
Industry according to NACE Rev2 Investments in SEK billions in current prices, third quarter 2020 Investments in SEK billions in current prices, third quarter 2019 Change between third quarter 2020 and third quarter 2019, in percent
Mining, and quarrying and manufacturing (05-33) 16 254 14 792 10
Energy, water and sewer (35-39) 11 080 12 048 ‑8
Construction (41-43) 2 281 2 277 0
Trade in goods (45-47) 3 769 3 951 ‑5
Transportation and storage (49, excl. 49.32, 51-53) 4 606 5 146 ‑10
Information and communication (58, 61-63) 3 145 3 373 ‑7
Banks and insurance companies (64.1, 65) 860 892 ‑4
Real estate (68, excl. 68.204) 29 833 34 437 ‑13
Business services (71-75, 77-82) 3 453 3 551 ‑3
Total 75 281 80 467 ‑6

Source: Investment survey third quarter 2020.

In percentage terms, the real estate industry noted the largest decrease in investments, 13 percent, compared with the third quarter of 2019 and amounted to SEK 29.8 billion. The energy, water and sewer industry reduced investments by 8 percent compared with the third quarter of 2019. Investments made by the industry for transportation and storage were also reduced by 10 percent compared with the third quarter of 2019, and amounted to 14.5 billion.

Many industries decreased investments between the second and third quarter of 2020. The real estate industry reduced investments by 17 percent, investments also decreased in the industry for transportation and storage, by 25 percent, and amounted to SEK 4.6 billion. Investments also decreased in the energy, water and sewer industry, the information and communication industry, and the construction industry in the third quarter compared with the second quarter of 2020.

Investments in machinery and equipment increased

Investments by class of assets, Q3 2020

Investments by class of assets,

Enterprises invested mainly in machinery and equipment. This class of assets accounted for 51 percent of total investments in the quarter. This is an increase of 2 percentage points compared with the second quarter of 2020. New construction, extensions and rebuilding of existing buildings accounted for 24 percent of total investments. Housing accounted for 19 percent of total investments, which is a decrease of 1 percentage point compared with the second quarter of 2020. Purchases of buildings and facilities accounted for 6 percent of total investments in the third quarter.

Definitions and explanations

All the data in this statistical news is reported in current prices. Comparisons have been made with the corresponding quarter in 2019, and with the previous quarter in 2020.

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 fourth quarter and will be published on 2021-03-05 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