• UK business confidence rose six percentage points to 47% in October, reflecting stronger economic optimism and improved trading prospects.
• Optimism about the wider economy increased nine percentage points to 40%, supported by stronger customer demand and improving financial conditions.
• Businesses’ trading outlook climbed five percentage points to 55%, with stronger demand supporting expectations.
• The share of firms expecting price increases over the next 12 months rose three percentage points to 55%, driven by cost pressures.
• Services confidence reached 52%, while retail confidence fell to 39% as rising costs and uncertainty weighed on sentiment.

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. Lloyds Banking Group plc published the original content used to generate this news brief on October 30, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained therein.