Businesses are less confident about prospects for the next six months, with UK and global demand seen as the biggest threats to their fortunes in 2016, according to the latest Business in Britain report from Lloyds Bank.
The Business in Britain report, now in its 24th year, gathers the views of 1,500 UK companies, predominantly small to medium sized businesses, and tracks the overall “balance” of opinion on a range of important performance and confidence measures, weighing up the percentage of firms that are positive in outlook against those that are negative.
The report’s confidence index - an average of respondents’ expected sales, orders and profits over the next six months - has declined to 38 per cent, down from 43 per cent in July and January 2015. However the index remains close to its recent highs and above its long term average of 24 per cent.
UK demand greatest threat to business and fall in export optimism in Europe
Just under a third of firms (31 per cent) identified weaker UK demand as the main threat to their business over the next six months - a rise from 29 per cent in July. This was closely followed by a rise in the proportion of exporters who cited weaker overseas demand as the biggest threat to their business - a rise from 23 to 25 per cent.
The net balance of exporters expecting an increase in total exports across the globe fell by 11 points to 35 per cent, reflected by relatively large decreases in firms’ intentions to export to Europe and Asia Pacific.
Exporters stated that they were more concerned about the negative impact of the strength of the pound against the Euro than the US dollar. Over a third of firms (34 per cent) said that the value of the pound against the Euro was having a negative impact on their exports, while over a fifth (21 per cent) said the same for the value of the pound against the dollar.
|
|
Net balance of firms expecting to increase exports to these regions
|
|
|
January 2015
|
July 2015
|
January 2016
|
Change
|
|
US/Canada
|
20%
|
21%
|
19%
|
- 2 points
|
|
Middle East
|
13%
|
16%
|
14%
|
- 2 points
|
|
Latin America
|
7%
|
6%
|
3%
|
- 3 points
|
|
Africa
|
8%
|
11%
|
6%
|
- 5 points
|
|
Asia Pacific
|
21%
|
21%
|
14%
|
- 7 points
|
|
Europe
|
22%
|
30%
|
19%
|
- 11 points
|
Tim Hinton, Managing Director, Mid Markets and SME Banking, Lloyds Banking Group said: “Business confidence has slipped back slightly as companies see slowing demand as a threat to their business in 2016, both at home and abroad.
“Global economic conditions are causing concern in the short term, with Sterling’s strength against the Euro causing issues for exporters. However confidence levels remain close to recent highs, especially on the back of three years of economic growth.”
“Businesses should continue to be prepared for interest rate rises and currency fluctuations, with the recent decision by the US Federal Reserve a reminder that this benign environment is not here to stay.
“Lloyds Banking Group is playing its part in helping Britain prosper globally by supporting businesses to start up, scale up, trade overseas and manage their risks. Businesses have good reasons to remain confident as the long-term health of the UK continues to improve.”
Hiring and investment intentions decline but remain above average
The net balance of companies anticipating an increase in headcount over the next six months fell for the third consecutive survey by 6 points to 13 per cent while the net balance planning to increase their capital expenditure also declined, falling from 18 to 14 per cent.
However both indicators remain well above their long-term averages of 9 per cent and 4 per cent respectively, consistent with further employment gains and an ongoing pickup in investment spending for the first half of 2016.
Spare capacity narrows and expectation of interest rate rise increases
The share of businesses indicating that they are operating at full capacity – producing all that they can with existing resources – rose to an all-time high of 52 per cent, up from 47 per cent in July and up from less than one-in-three, five years ago. This suggests that spare capacity in the economy continues to narrow and could cause the rate of inflation to rise.
The net balance of firms expecting an increase in interest rates over the coming six months increased from 30 per cent 40 per cent. However the net balance of companies that said that they were very concerned about a rise in interest rates dropped slightly from 16 to 14 per cent.
Hann-Ju Ho, Senior Economist, Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking, said: “The fact that over half of businesses are operating at full capacity is unprecedented in the survey’s history. While this is not matched by investment intentions it could put upward pressure on inflation through 2016 as the extent of overall slack in the economy continues to diminish.
“While expectations of higher interest rates have increased, firms seem relatively relaxed by the prospect, having had further time to prepare for the first rate rise. While the Fed has already increased their interest rates, the MPC will want to be confident that the UK economy is ready for a gradual rise in rates sometime this year.”
SECTOR PICTURE
Retail & wholesale activity has strengthened
Business confidence for the next six months fell in every sector with the exception of retail & wholesale. The biggest decline was in the manufacturing sector where confidence dropped 14 points to 37 per cent - its lowest level since mid-2013, reflecting the expected difficulties for exporters.
|
Sector
|
|
Confidence balance
|
|
|
January 2015
|
July 2015
|
January 2016
|
Change
|
|
Retail/Wholesale
|
43%
|
43%
|
47%
|
+ 4 points
|
|
Hospitality and Leisure
|
40%
|
44%
|
43%
|
-1 point
|
|
Business and other services
|
45%
|
40%
|
38%
|
- 2 points
|
|
Transport and Communication
|
47%
|
38%
|
32%
|
- 6 points
|
|
Construction
|
42%
|
50%
|
44%
|
- 6 points
|
|
Manufacturing
|
44%
|
51%
|
37%
|
- 14 points points
|
REGIONAL PICTURE
Overall confidence is lowest in the North East, Wales & Scotland
Overall business confidence declined in nine regions but rose in the North West and in Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire & the South Midlands. The largest decline in confidence was in the South East (down 17 points to 34 per cent), and Scotland (down 14 points to 31 per cent).
Overall business confidence is lowest in Wales, the North East and Scotland, while it is highest in Yorkshire & the Humber, and Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire & the South Midlands.
|
ONS Regions
|
|
Confidence Index
|
|
|
January 2015
|
July 2015
|
January 2016
|
Change
|
|
North West
|
42%
|
37%
|
40%
|
+ 3 points
|
|
Gloucester, Oxford , South Midlands
|
40%
|
43%
|
45%
|
+ 2 points
|
|
Yorkshire & the Humber
|
48%
|
46%
|
46%
|
No Change
|
|
West Midlands
|
43%
|
42%
|
39%
|
- 3 points
|
|
London
|
42%
|
40%
|
37%
|
- 3 points
|
|
North East
|
26%
|
30%
|
27%
|
- 3 points
|
|
East Midlands & East
|
40%
|
46%
|
40%
|
- 6 points
|
|
Wales
|
46%
|
32%
|
26%
|
- 6 points
|
|
South West
|
43%
|
49%
|
40%
|
- 9 points
|
|
Scotland
|
51%
|
45%
|
31%
|
- 14 points
|
|
South East
|
46%
|
52%
|
34%
|
- 18 points
|