Canadian Survey on Business Conditions
The Canadian Survey on Business Conditions (CSBC) is a quarterly survey of businesses and nonprofit institutions. It is conducted online, via a self-administered, interactive questionnaire and collects information on business conditions and expectations as well as emerging issues.
Data Produced by the CSBC
Survey content is a mixture of repeated tracking questions and one-off questions probing on emergent issues or novel aspects of areas also covered by the tracking questions. Major topic areas include:
- predicted near-term (next 3 months) changes to business conditions,
- predicted near-term obstacles,
- supply chain issues,
- technology-related issues,
- medium-term (next 12 months) business plans, and
- labour market conditions.
Scope and Coverage
The survey includes all active establishments on the Business Register with employees and an address in Canada. A few industries are specifically excluded, including:
- utilities;
- holding companies;
- educational services, including primary and secondary schools, colleges, universities, technical / trade schools, and educational support services;
- hospitals, out-patient care facilities, medical laboratories, and other ambulatory health care services;
Federal, Provincial, local, Indigenous and International government.
Subdivision of Organizations
The CSBC divides surveyed organizations into four categories. These are conceptually similar to those used in the Satellite Account of Nonprofit Institutions and Volunteering, but the fact that survey respondents self-assign to these categories means there are likely some differences in how the two data sources classify organizations. The four CSBC categories are:
Community nonprofits: These are described as nonprofit organizations primarily serving households or individuals. Example organizations include “child and youth services, community food services, food bank, women’s shelter, community housing services, emergency relief services, religious organization, grant and giving services, social advocacy group, arts and recreation group”.
Business nonprofits: These are described as nonprofit organizations primarily serving businesses. Example organizations include “business association, chamber of commerce, condominium association, environmental support or protection services, group benefit carriers (pensions, health, medical)”.
Government agencies: These are not described, nor are any specific examples of agencies given. Given the scope of the survey, assuming respondents correctly self-identify, this category would include government-aligned nonprofit organizations providing social assistance, nursing homes and assistive care facilities. It would exclude Federal, Provincial, local, Indigenous, and International units of government, which are out of scope for the survey.
Businesses: These are described as private-sector businesses. No specific examples are given.
