Rathbones, one of the UK’s leading wealth and asset management groups, previews the Spring Statement (on 3 March 2026), setting out what it could mean for the UK economy and personal finances.

Wales’s next government must put the country’s 200,000 small businesses at the heart of its strategy in order to protect jobs, communities and the Welsh economy, the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has warned.

Nearly 6,000 high-growth business owners left the UK in just two years between 2024 and 2026, with the greatest proportion working in tech sectors.

North West accountancy firm Lamont Pridmore has raised concerns about how prepared family businesses are for succession, retirement and planning future tax liabilities.

Manufacturing output volumes fell in the three months to February, though at a slower pace than in January – according to the CBI’s latest Industrial Trends Survey (ITS).

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) is sounding a warning shot ahead of a looming cost crunch in April that could push many small firms to breaking point.

Rising tax and cost pressures forced more than one in five (21%) SME bosses to lay off staff last year, according to a survey commissioned by Rathbones, one of the UK’s largest wealth and asset management groups.

A Treasury U-turn will bring temporary relief to pubs and live music venues across England and Wales, easing the impact of steeply rising business rates that had threatened large swathes of the sector. 

New research reveals that the UK development industry is entering 2026 with cautious optimism but is still held back by deep-rooted staffing challenges that are slowing delivery and squeezing project viability.

The UK private sector was buoyed by a sharp expansion in output among mid-market businesses at the end of 2025, which has helped to fuel optimism for 2026.

Consumer card spending declined -0.2 per cent year-on-year in 2025, after growing 1.6 per cent in 2024 and 4.1 per cent in 2023.

Latest CEO Confidence survey, revealing a sharp contrast between how leaders see the wider economy and how they feel about their own businesses.

The latest CBI Economic Forecast finds businesses swimming against the powerful tides of weak demand, elevated labour and energy costs, and ongoing domestic and global uncertainty.

Manufacturing output volumes fell in the three months to December, though at a slower pace than in November.

Business confidence increased to 47% in December, rising five points from last month and standing 10 points higher than the start of 2025, according to the latest Lloyds Business Barometer.

Retail sales volumes fell at an accelerated rate in the year to December, extending a period of weakness that began in mid-2023.

Firms across the private sector once again expect activity to fall in the next three months according to CBI Survey.

Food and drink exports to the EU are down almost a quarter (23.4%) over the last five years when compared to the five-year period prior to Brexit.

The Chancellor has finally lifted the curtain on the government’s latest tax and spending plans in the Autumn Budget.

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.