Concerns over the state of the economy are topping the fleet agenda, at the potential expense of the environment.

According to the latest quarterly Company Car Trends survey by GE Capital Solutions, Fleet Services, when asked what is likely to have the greatest influence on fleet policy next year, 97.9% of respondents said it was the current poor economic condition.

The number two factor was oil and fuel prices at 97.3% – up 13.3% - although the recent decline in pump prices will have boosted confidence in this area.

Environmental considerations, which have consistently topped the table in recent surveys, have slipped to number four.

All 635 respondents believe that demand for company cars among essential users will increase – up 4.2% year on year. This is at the expense of cash for car options, with only 17.3% of respondents expecting an increase among essential users – down 32.2% year on year, and 33.4% among non-essential users - down 10.6% in the last 12 months.

Employee car ownership schemes are also expected to take a significant hit. Just 29.6% of respondents foresee an increase in demand here for essential users - down 21.3% year on year – and 8.3% among non-essential users – a massive drop in the last 12 months of 46.8%.