Nachrichten von Confederation of British Industry

CBI Deputy Chief Economist Alpesh Paleja says UK economic activity held up into September, with information and communications and professional services supporting resilience. He warns that uneven demand, rising business costs and inflation threaten growth, and calls for lower energy costs and…

CBI Chief Executive Rain Newton-Smith welcomed the Prime Minister’s announcement of major investment in offshore wind, citing its potential to attract private capital, create skilled jobs and support growth. She said homegrown clean power could also strengthen energy security and UK competitiveness.

A new report by the CBI, Ibec and Hays finds that cross-border recruitment and work between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland are held back by transport costs, tax complexity and other barriers. The survey of more than 1,200 employers and employees also highlights skills shortages,…

The Monetary Policy Committee has raised interest rates for the first time in over three years. CBI Deputy Chief Economist Alpesh Paleja says persistently high inflation could lead to another rise, increasing borrowing costs for households and businesses.

The Energy Independence Bill is a welcome step towards strengthening the UK's energy security, improving affordability and supporting the transition to a low-carbon economy. CBI says reforms must be delivered to build a reliable energy system and give investors confidence.

The CBI says the exemption of health and social care workers from changes to settlement rules alters the case for the wider policy. It urges the government to reconsider the remaining changes, which could raise costs for businesses using Skilled Worker visas.

Responding to the government’s Budget announcements today, Rain Newton-Smith, CBI Chief Executive, said:

The CBI says the Budget falls short of the government’s ambitions to boost prosperity and argues it should do more to support business investment, hiring and growth. It welcomes selected measures, including business rates relief and funding for the British Business Bank, while calling for further…

Business expectations for growth over the next three months are at their least negative in two years, according to the CBI’s latest Growth Indicator. The improvement is led by distribution firms, while manufacturers expect output to stabilise.

Retail sales volumes in the UK fell at their slowest annual rate since April 2025 in October, according to the CBI’s latest survey. Sales were broadly in line with seasonal norms, while retailers expect volumes to decline at the same modest rate in November.