The change in capital expenditures made by private firms. Businesses only invest when they are optimistic about future economic growth and expect a profitable return on their investments. Because of this, increased capital expenditures usually reflect a higher level of consumer demand that induces companies to expand their productive capacity. Current Business Investment usually allow for higher GDP in the future. For these reasons Business Investment may lead economic growth.

The headline number is the percentage change in investment from the previous quarter.

Relevance: Rarely affects markets
Release schedule : Updated quarterly in the Economic Trends report (Economic Trends is a monthly report, but the Business Investment data is updated quarterly)
Revision schedule: Quarterly
Source of report : Office for National Statistics
Web Address : http://www.statistics.gov.uk/
Address of release : http://www.statistics.gov.uk/STATBASE/Product.asp?vlnk=308 Refer > Economic Trends Report
AKA: Business Demand