• Development Bank of Wales published the Economic Intelligence Wales annual report 2025/26, flagging improved SME credit availability despite persistent uncertainty.
• Gross lending to small firms rose 51% in Q1 2026 versus a year earlier; 50% of UK SMEs used external finance.
• Lenders reported stronger demand from smaller firms; credit availability increased across small, medium, large businesses in Q1 2026.
• FSB confidence index stayed deeply negative at -52.5; economic conditions remained the main constraint on SME growth.
• Wales recorded more closures than start-ups in Q1 2026; exports slipped 0.5% to £19.1 billion in the year to March 2026.

Disclaimer: This news brief was created by Public Technologies (PUBT) using generative artificial intelligence. While PUBT strives to provide accurate and timely information, this AI-generated content is for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as financial, investment, or legal advice. Development Bank of Wales Public Ltd Co published the original content used to generate this news brief on September 09, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained therein.