Economy

London, UK: New Ipsos polling of 1,200 senior business decision makers with an annual turnover of £250,000, conducted between 1 July - 16 July 2026.

New Ipsos polling reveals growing economic pessimism and the tangible impact of the Iran conflict on costs, though businesses continue to favour Labour over the Conservatives and Reform on key economic and business policies.

New polling data from Ipsos in the UK, conducted 17-21 April 2026, reveals high levels of public anxiety as the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz begins to disrupt global supply chains. The British public is particularly concerned about the personal financial toll on food and petrol, while expressing dissatisfaction with the government’s response to rising prices.

The latest Ipsos Economic Optimism Index (EOI) reveals that net economic optimism in Britain has fallen to the lowest levels ever recorded since Ipsos began collecting this data in 1978. In the latest data, collected 8-14 April 2026, 78% of Britons expect the economy to get worse over the next 12 months (up 3ppts since last month), the highest level recorded since the Index began.

Most traders and intermediaries traded both imports and exports in the past year, particularly with the EU. The majority operated in both directions (93% of intermediaries, 76% of self-declaring traders and 64% of non-declaring traders), while only small proportions traded solely in one direction.

Ipsos was commissioned by the Home Office to conduct a landmark study, comprehensively measuring incidence of fraud, corruption and money laundering in UK businesses (a global first).

The March 2026 Ipsos Issues Index reveals a sharp increase in public concern about defence and foreign affairs.

New polling from Ipsos finds slight improvements in economic outlook among businesses and the general public but many concerns remain. Fieldwork was carried out before the Spring Statement and recent conflict in the Middle East.

Results from the 12th edition of the British Business Bank’s Small Business Finance Support survey are now available.