It’s been a week in which the news has been dominated by the results of the US mid-term elections, followed by a fall in the price of oil. What will the results mean for global trading conditions?
Yesterday, the Bank of England opted to increase the interest rate to 4% It was the first time in more than three years that the Bank had voted to raise the interest rate, against the backdrop of persistent inflation, which is forecast to hit 5% in 2027.
2026 continues to be a turbulent year for business, with soaring energy costs and inflationary pressures but what’s your level of business confidence as we head towards the end of the calendar year?
We’re keen to get a sense check on business confidence and outlook here in Staffordshire, as we launch our latest Quarterly Economic Survey (QES) – Q4, 2026.
Every three months, all 51 UK Chambers’ of Commerce roll out the QES, which is the longest running independent survey of business sentiment, having started life in 1989.
QES provides a measure of the levels of business confidence and outlook and is widely acknowledged by the likes of the Bank of England as a really useful indicator of how the economy is performing.
In the last year, QES responses have picked up a slowdown in business confidence, with labour costs and energy costs ranked as the top two pressures forcing businesses to raise prices
In our last QES (Q3, 2026), there was a noticeable drop in the number of businesses planning to recruit new staff, as well as more businesses reporting a reduction in workforce.
This QES also found that there had been a rise in the number of businesses reporting a growth in domestic sales, offset by a fall in the number of businesses reporting higher overseas sales.
Please share your business confidence feedback by taking the time to complete our QES.
Survey responses can be completed anonymously, and results are compiled and shared with the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), who will publish an overall summary of national results. Here at Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce, we’ll be analysing results in the county and making both regional and national comparisons.
The QES comprises a short bank of questions, most of which have a simple tick box response. It takes little more than 60 seconds to complete and by taking part, you’ll help to paint a picture of local and national economic performance. We’re keen for QES responses to be reflective of a wide mix of business sectors and business sizes.
Please spare us a minute of your time. Your response helps to build that evidence base and provides us with that useful measurement of business confidence.
Click here to open QES – Q4 – 2026:
