The Business Confidence Index (BCI) of the United Kingdom was 97.4 in December 2024, compared with 98.7 in the previous month, an indication that business confidence is falling in the UK. Worryingly, this was also the lowest score since July 2020, when the UK's business confidence index stood at 96.6. During this time period, business confidence was highest in late 2021, and was at its lowest point in March 2009. Taxation overtakes inflation as main business concern In the third quarter of 2023, inflation was seen by 65 percent of UK firms as a major external concern facing their business. At that time, the UK's inflation rate was still at the relatively high figure of 6.7 percent, although this was down from a peak of 11.1 percent in October 2022. As the rate of inflation continued to fall in 2024, the issue became slightly less pressing for UK businesses, with 49 percent seeing it as a main concern in the second quarter of 2024, although it was still ahead of other issues. In the second half of 2024, however, taxation has emerged as the main worry for UK firms, with 63 percent of businesses citing it as an external concern in the fourth quarter of 2024. This is likely related to the rise in National Insurance businesses will have to pay from April 2025 onwards, one of the main measures announced in the Autumn Budget in October 2024. UK business demographics In 2024, there were approximately 5.5 million private business enterprises in the UK, which was down from a peak of 5.98 million in 2020. As of this year, the UK's private sector workforce was around 27.6 million, compared with 6.1 million who worked in the public sector. While most businesses in the UK are small enterprises that employ fewer than ten people, the UK's large businesses are responsible for employing a large share of the workforce, with around 8.2 million people working for large businesses in 2024. The biggest UK-based company, in terms of global employees in 2024 was the Compass Group, with a global workforce of around half a million, followed by Tesco at 345,000 employees.

Business Confidence in the United Kingdom decreased to -47 points in the first quarter of 2025 from -24 points in the fourth quarter of 2024. This dataset provides - United Kingdom Business Confidence - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

United Kingdom Consumer Confidence Score: GB: Future Local Economy data was reported at -29.000 Score in Jan 2023. This records a decrease from the previous number of -28.000 Score for Dec 2022. United Kingdom Consumer Confidence Score: GB: Future Local Economy data is updated monthly, averaging -14.000 Score from Mar 2010 (Median) to Jan 2023, with 155 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 21.000 Score in Jun 2021 and a record low of -34.500 Score in Jun 2020. United Kingdom Consumer Confidence Score: GB: Future Local Economy data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Ipsos Group S.A.. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United Kingdom – Table UK.IPSOS: Consumer Confidence Survey.

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