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.

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.

Manufacturing output volumes fell in the three months to November, and at the fastest pace since August 2020

Government encouraged to support entrepreneurs and smaller companies with a Budget that encourages them to invest.  

Family business leaders across the UK are experiencing a familiar, but increasingly intolerable sensation: uncertainty.

New data reveals firms are pulling back on investment, borrowing more to maintain cashflow, and taking on greater personal financial risk.

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.