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Barclays Reveals 2025’s Top 10 Consumer Spending Trends
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.

Paul Andrews - Founder & CEO, Family Business United
4 days ago7 min read


Bleak Economic Outlook But SME's Back Themselves
Latest CEO Confidence survey, revealing a sharp contrast between how leaders see the wider economy and how they feel about their own businesses.

Linda Andrews - Editorial Assistant, Family Business United
5 days ago4 min read


Underlying Weaknesses Holding UK Economy Back
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.

Paul Andrews - Founder & CEO, Family Business United
5 days ago4 min read


Manufacturing Output Decline Eases In Three Months To December
Manufacturing output volumes fell in the three months to December, though at a slower pace than in November.

Paul Andrews - Founder & CEO, Family Business United
5 days ago2 min read


Business Confidence Ends Year Higher Than Start Of 2025
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.

Paul Andrews - Founder & CEO, Family Business United
5 days ago2 min read


Retailers Report Bleak Holiday Trading As Sales Outlook Darkens
Retail sales volumes fell at an accelerated rate in the year to December, extending a period of weakness that began in mid-2023.

Paul Andrews - Founder & CEO, Family Business United
6 days ago2 min read


Private Sector Business Activity Rounds Off A Tough Year
Firms across the private sector once again expect activity to fall in the next three months according to CBI Survey.

Paul Andrews - Founder & CEO, Family Business United
Jan 52 min read


EU Food Exports Drop By Almost A Quarter Compared To Pre-Brexit
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.

Paul Andrews - Founder & CEO, Family Business United
Dec 17, 20253 min read


Chancellor Unveils Tax-And-Spend Plan Amid Cost-Of-Living Pressures
The Chancellor has finally lifted the curtain on the government’s latest tax and spending plans in the Autumn Budget.

Paul Andrews - Founder & CEO, Family Business United
Nov 27, 20254 min read


Steepest Fall In Retail Sentiment In 17 Years
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.

Linda Andrews - Editorial Assistant, Family Business United
Nov 26, 20253 min read


South West Publicans Urge The Government To Support The Pub Industry
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.

Linda Andrews - Editorial Assistant, Family Business United
Nov 24, 20252 min read


Manufacturing Output Volumes Fall Sharply In Quarter To November
Manufacturing output volumes fell in the three months to November, and at the fastest pace since August 2020

Paul Andrews - Founder & CEO, Family Business United
Nov 24, 20252 min read


Budget Business Reforms Urged To Unlock £60 Billion GDP Boost
Government encouraged to support entrepreneurs and smaller companies with a Budget that encourages them to invest.

Paul Andrews - Founder & CEO, Family Business United
Nov 24, 20252 min read


UK Family Businesses Need Certainty From The Budget
Family business leaders across the UK are experiencing a familiar, but increasingly intolerable sensation: uncertainty.

Paul Andrews - Founder & CEO, Family Business United
Nov 24, 20253 min read


SMEs Turn To Borrowing For Cashflow
New data reveals firms are pulling back on investment, borrowing more to maintain cashflow, and taking on greater personal financial risk.

Paul Andrews - Founder & CEO, Family Business United
Nov 21, 20252 min read


Private Sector Downturn Set To Persist Into 2026
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.

Linda Andrews - Editorial Assistant, Family Business United
Nov 14, 20252 min read


Falling Confidence In The Economy Sees Consumers Cutting Back
Consumer confidence in the UK economy fell during the last quarter, reaching the lowest point so far this year.

Paul Andrews - Founder & CEO, Family Business United
Nov 12, 20253 min read


UK Manufacturers Slam The Brakes On Investment As Demand Weakens
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.

Linda Andrews - Editorial Assistant, Family Business United
Nov 12, 20254 min read


Private Sector Downturn Set To Persist Into 2026
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.

Linda Andrews - Editorial Assistant, Family Business United
Nov 12, 20252 min read


Warehousing Sector Is All Taxed-Out UKWA Warns Ahead Of Budget
The UK Warehousing Association is warning that the sector is all taxed out and that it needs the Chancellor to assist the sector in the forthcoming Autumn Budget.

Paul Andrews - Founder & CEO, Family Business United
Nov 4, 20252 min read
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