Lloyds Business Barometer: UK business confidence slides 12 points to 41%, 17-month low

By Public Technologies
  • Lloyds flagged a sharp pullback in UK business confidence in September, down 12 points to 41%, a 17-month low.
  • The reading remained above the long-term average of 30%, yet fell below the 12-month average of 47%.
  • Economic optimism dropped 18 points to 31%, hit by higher energy costs tied to renewed Middle East tensions.
  • Trading outlook weakened 8 points to 50%, with cost pressures and softer demand cited as key drags.
  • Price pressures persisted, with 52% of firms expecting to raise prices over the next 12 months, up 1 point.


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