A survey of 500 small and medium-sized businesses in the UK by Money.co.uk found that 77% have delayed a personal financial decision, such as buying a home, having children or retirement planning, due to uncertainty over the Budget. Some 65% worry that a rise in business taxes could force their firm to close within 12 months, as most businesses borrow while interest rates remain elevated compared with the pre-pandemic era. If taxes rise, 57% of owners said they would raise prices, 39% would pause growth or expansion, and 29% would stop hiring. Energy and utility bills are the biggest cost pressure, cited by 54% of owners, and the Budget measures they most often wanted were cuts to energy costs and a reduction or overhaul of business rates, each at 17%.
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Related tickers and likely impact
GBP/USD
• NeutralRelevance: low
| Market | Currencies |
|---|---|
| Close on 10/22/2026 | 1.34003 |
| Change that session | +0.04% |
Impact is scored by AI from the headline and may be wrong. It is not investment advice.
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