UK Business Confidence Surges to Highest Level Since March, Lloyds Survey Finds
Business Confidence Reaches New Highs in August
Survey Overview and Key Findings
LONDON, Aug 28 (Reuters) - British businesses turned the most confident since March this month, bolstered by a rosier view of the economy, according to a survey that echoes other signs of an improving outlook.
Lloyds, a bank, said on Friday that its monthly business confidence index had risen by 4 points in August to +53%, above its average +47% over the past 12 months.
Comments from Lloyds Leadership
"Overall, businesses are reporting stronger customer demand, greater optimism about the wider economy and growing confidence in their own trading outlook, all of which will be helping to support investment and growth plans," Amanda Murphy, chief executive of Lloyds Business and Commercial Banking, said.
Detailed Survey Results
Economic Optimism and Trading Outlook
• Optimism about the wider economy rose 7 points to +49%, well above its 12-month average of +37%
• Businesses' own trading outlook rose 2 points to +58%, slightly above its 12-month average of +56%
Pricing and Market Trends
• The percentage of firms planning to raise prices in the next 12 months fell to its lowest since 2022, dropping 3 percentage points to 51%
• S&P Global data last week showed the fastest growth for British businesses in six months, adding to other positive signs
Survey Methodology
• Lloyds data was based on an Ipsos survey of 1,200 British companies with annual sales of at least £250,000 ($340,000)
($1 = 0.7363 pounds)
Reporting Credits
(Reporting by David MillikenEditing by William Schomberg)