Economic Climate

Sentiment amongst retailers fell at the sharpest rate in 17 years, with a growing share of firms expecting their business situation to deteriorate over the coming quarter – according to the CBI’s latest quarterly Distributive Trades Survey.

Publicans across the South West are calling on the government to take positive action and ease mounting financial pressures on pubs ahead of this week’s Budget, warning that the sector is at a critical tipping point.

Firms across the private sector expect activity to fall in the next three months (weighted balance of -20%), extending a run of negative predictions that began in late 2024, according to the CBI’s latest Growth Indicator.

The UK manufacturing sector endured another challenging period in the quarter to October, with output and orders falling sharply, sentiment deteriorating and investment plans cut back sharply, according to the latest quarterly CBI Industrial Trends Survey.

Firms across the private sector expect activity to fall in the next three months (weighted balance of -20%), extending a run of negative predictions that began in late 2024, according to the CBI’s latest Growth Indicator.

Confidence among North West mid-sized companies remains resolute, according to new research from accounting and business advisory firm BDO.

New research from M&S reveals that retail is helping more young people into work than any other sector, with nearly 1 in 4 beginning their careers in the industry - more than double the total for any other industry in the UK.

Mid-market companies remained the growth engine of the UK private sector economy in September, according to the latest NatWest UK Business Growth Tracker data.

Britain’s high streets face a critical moment, the Co-op has warned, as new research reveals 60,000 small shops and 150,000 jobs could disappear without urgent business rates reform. The findings, released ahead of the Autumn Budget, show around 7 in 10 UK adults (69%) lack confidence that the Government will deliver on its promise of relief for small businesses - despite repeated pledges in previous budgets.   If reforms are not delivered, 10% of small high street business o

The UK recruitment market saw a notable uplift in September, with contract roles rising by 10% year-on-year and 18% month-on-month,...

Scottish farmers are warning that the UK’s food security is under serious threat following a UK Government decision to remove Skilled...

According to RSM UK’s latest Economic Outlook for Q3 2025, the UK was the best performing G7 economy in the first half of 2025, despite...

Responding to the announcement that Gross Domestic Product (GDP) showed flat growth in July, and rose by 0.3% in the three months to...

Aston University researchers’ recommendations to boost the UK's ethnic minority businesses are to be adopted by the government. The...

The Bank of England has made a significant decision to cut interest rates from 4.25% to 4% which could mean that borrowing becomes...

The professional staffing market is showing promising signs, with both contract and permanent hiring activity increasing month-on-month....

Firms across the private sector expect activity to fall in the next three months (weighted balance of -18%), extending a run of negative...

“The new car market has experienced a decline in July, with registrations down -5.0%” said Sue Robinson, Chief Executive of the National...

The UK manufacturing sector showed tentative signs of stabilisation in July, but the underlying picture remains fragile as demand softens...

The percentage of small businesses working on new initiatives to power future growth has fallen to a four-year low (65%) and is...