Key findings
- 63% of consumers and 65% of business leaders are neither optimistic nor pessimistic about the UK economy over the next 12 months.
- 19% of consumers are optimistic and 18% pessimistic: a net score of +1.
- 10% of business leaders are optimistic and 25% pessimistic: a net score of -15.
Are consumers optimistic about the UK economy?
They are split, and mostly undecided. One in five consumers (19%) are optimistic about the economy over the next 12 months, and almost the same number (18%) are pessimistic. The remaining 63% are neither.
Are businesses optimistic about the UK economy?
Less so. One in ten business leaders (10%) are optimistic and a quarter (25%) are pessimistic. As with consumers, the largest group by far (65%) sits in the middle.
Two-thirds of the UK is on the fence about the economy
How optimistic or pessimistic are you about the UK economy over the next 12 months?
- Very optimistic
- Somewhat optimistic
- Neither
- Somewhat pessimistic
- Very pessimistic
View data
| Audience | Very optimistic | Somewhat optimistic | Neither | Somewhat pessimistic | Very pessimistic | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Consumers | 5% | 14% | 63% | 10% | 8% | Net +1 |
| Business leaders | 7% | 3% | 65% | 21% | 4% | Net −15 |
What this means
The headline is the middle. Party conferences are where each party sets out its economic case. Two-thirds of both audiences came out of that period without a lean in either direction.
For businesses planning the year ahead, "neither" is its own kind of signal. It is hard to commit to hiring or investment on a shrug. That may be why greater economic and policy certainty sits near the top of what business leaders want from the Government.
We will ask this question again each quarter to see which way the middle moves.
Net economic optimism
Share who are optimistic about the UK economy over the next 12 months, minus the share who are pessimistic
View data
| Wave | Consumers (net) | Business leaders (net) |
|---|---|---|
| October 2026 | +1 | -15 |
Frequently asked questions
Are Britons optimistic about the economy?
19% of consumers are optimistic about the UK economy over the next 12 months and 18% are pessimistic, according to polling by The Reality Department. 63% are neither.
Are UK businesses optimistic about the economy?
10% of UK business leaders are optimistic and 25% are pessimistic, a net score of -15. 65% are neither.
Methodology
The Reality Department surveyed 500 nationally representative UK consumers and 250 business leaders. Fieldwork: October 2026. Net optimism is the share who are very or somewhat optimistic minus the share who are very or somewhat pessimistic.
Related: Do politicians understand the issues that matter?
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