Mixed picture painted of the future of businesses in 2026

MORE firms expect to increase prices, only four out of ten expect profitability to improve over the next year, business rates move into the top three concerns and overseas sales have risen - the findings of East Midlands Chamber's last Quarterly Economic Survey of the year paint a mixed picture.

- By TELEGRAPH REPORTER

Hundreds of East Midlands businesses, across a wide range of sectors, participated in the chamber's research and the data was gathered based on a combination of measurable data and sentiment. The survey found the following when comparing the last quarter to the third quarter of the year.

■Sales and orders stabilised slightly over the last three months with UK sales down 3% and orders up 2%. Overseas sales were up 5% and orders rose 6%.

■Pressure to raise prices over the next three months increased with 4 out of 10 firms anticipating raising prices, up from 3 out of 10.

■Fewer firms are operating below capacity with 7 out of 10 saying so, a fall from 8 out of 10.

■Investment intention in machinery and training has fallen with 3 out of 10 have revising machinery investment downwards, up from 2 out of 10. Two out of 10 have revised training investment intention downwards, a marginal increase in the downward trend.

■Recruitment is hesitant but unchanged with half attempting to hire new staff, no significant change. Seven of 10 expect their workforce to remain the same, again this is no significant change, and 6 out of 10 report difficulties finding suitable staff, a marginal drop of 4%.