Business confidence at near record low following Budget

Business confidence is at an almost record low after the Budget, the Institute of Directors (IoD) has warned.

- KATE DEVLIN WHITEHALL EDITOR

In the wake of Rachel Reeves's announcements, which included an above-inflation rise in the minimum wage from April, industry leaders were more likely to believe that their revenue would fall and companies would invest less, a survey by the IoD found.

Anna Leach, chief economist at the IoD, said the deterioration in their expectations was “worrying” and called on Ms Reeves to do more to improve the prospects for economic growth.

After the Budget, the owner of All Bar One, Mitchells & Butlers, warned that it faced about £130m in extra costs over the next year because of higher wages and rising food prices.