8.7%. That's how fast input prices for manufacturers rose in the year to May — the fastest pace since February 2023. 📈 Our July Economic Deep Dive breaks down how the Iran conflict is feeding through to costs, inflation, and investment.

Business volumes in the financial services sector dropped at a rapid pace in Q2, following a temporary recovery in Q1, according to the latest CBI Financial Services Survey. Firms expect volumes to decline at a relatively slower pace over the next quarter.

Here are the key UK economic data releases for this week

New Economy in Brief 📢 CBI Deputy Chief Economist @alpeshpaleja.bsky.social analyses markets’ reaction to the US-Iran MOU, the UK outlook, and the economic backdrop facing the incoming Prime Minister. Read more🔒https://www.cbi.org.uk/articles/economy-in-brief-july-2026/

Here are the key UK economic data releases and events for this week

📉 PRIVATE SECTOR ACTIVITY IS EXPECTED TO FALL INTO THE AUTUMN, EXTENDING A RUN OF NEGATIVE PREDICTIONS THAT BEGAN IN LATE 2024 Firms anticipate declines in activity once again through to September

Retailers reported a gloomy start to the summer, amid depressed consumer sentiment and rising cost pressures. Weak trading conditions were mirrored across the wholesale and motor trade sectors as well. Check out the results of the survey 🧵👇

Retail sales volumes were judged to be below seasonal norms in June, to the greatest extent in over two years, according to the latest CBI Distributive Trades Survey. July’s sales are expected to continue to disappoint for the time of year.

The latest CBI Industrial Trends Survey pointed to a broad-based fall in output volumes in the three months to June, with the balance slipping to its weakest since 2020. Manufacturers expect output volumes to fall again in the three months to September.

Here are the key UK economic data releases for this week

New survey of 610 businesses shows major prize from aligning business, universities and policy www.manchester.ac.uk/about/news/n... This report from @cbieconomics.bsky.social and @manchester.ac.uk is a hugely interesting read, exploring how businesses draw on universities in practice

#Retail sales volumes rose by 1.2% m/m in May (reversing a 1.0% decline in April), overshooting analysts’ expectations of a 0.5% rise. However, underlying momentum remained more muted over the three months to May, with volumes rising by 0.4% (from 0.5% in the previous period).

"The MPC’s focus has now shifted towards digesting the implications of the US-Iran deal to extend the ceasefire and restore energy flows" says CBI Deputy Chief Economist @alpeshpaleja.bsky.social Click below to see our full response to today's MPC decision www.cbi.org.uk/media-centre...

"The latest [inflation] data comes as a welcome surprise. But this is likely to be the calm before the storm, with price pressures set to see a pronounced rise over the coming months." - @alpeshpaleja.bsky.social, Deputy Chief Economist Read more: cbi.org.uk/media-centre...

Here are the key UK economic data releases and events for this week

UK GDP rose by 0.7% in the three months to April, accelerating for the fifth consecutive rolling-quarter. This leaves GDP 1.1% higher than in April 2025. But the strong quarterly growth figure masks a fall in output in April.

📢New CBI UK economic forecast is out 📢 We expect GDP growth to slow from 1.4% in 2025 to 1.1% in 2026 and 0.9% in 2027, as the Iran conflict pushes up inflation and weighs on private sector demand. What you need to know 🧵👇 (1/8)

The CBI’s latest economic forecast will be released this week, alongside other key UK economic data releases to keep on your radar.

New📢 In June's Economy in Brief, CBI Deputy Chief Economist @alpeshpaleja.bsky.social analyses the state of the UK economy over Q1 2026, and how developments in the Middle East are impacting price pressures and bond markets. Read more🔒 www.cbi.org.uk/articles/eco...

❓ What is the net zero economy really worth to the UK? That’s what @eciu.net tasked us to find out through the most comprehensive independent assessment yet of the net zero economy in 2025. Download the full report now 👉 www.cbi.org.uk/articles/net...

This morning, Energy UK responded to the latest @cbieconomics.bsky.social / @eciu.net report: “The Race for Net Zero: The UK Net Zero Economy and the Transition to a Competitive Future”. Read her full response 👉 buff.ly/c1qOD0X

📢 New important report: the UK’s net zero economy accounts for 1.1 million people in green jobs, generating 1.5X more economic value than the national average. According to new insights from @cbieconomics.bsky.social commissioned by @eciu.net 👉 Find out more: eciu.net/media/press-...

Here are the key UK economic data releases and events for this week

📉 PRIVATE SECTOR ACTIVITY IS EXPECTED TO FALL AGAIN OVER THE SUMMER, EXTENDING A DOWNTURN THAT BEGAN IN LATE 2024 The CBI’s latest surveys find that firms anticipate further declines in activity through to August

Scotland's net zero economy supports £10.2 billion in GVA & over 105,000 jobs. New report from @cbieconomics.bsky.social & the ECIU maps the full scale & regional opportunity of Scotland's net zero economy. eciu.net/analysis/rep...

General sentiment deteriorated drastically amongst business & professional services firms in the quarter to May, after being broadly unchanged in the quarter to February. Optimism amongst consumer services firms also worsened in May, at a slightly faster pace than in February.

#Retail selling prices grew in the year to May at the slowest rate since February 2025 – according to the CBI’s latest quarterly Distributive Trades Survey – and are set to grow at a similar pace in June.

Here are the key UK economic data releases for this week

#Retail sales volumes dropped by 1.3% m/m in April (reversing a 0.6% rise in March), marking the biggest fall since May 2025. Underlying momentum also eased over the three months to April, with volumes rising by 0.5% (from 1.4% in the previous period).

📢The best way to protect households is to reduce the cost of doing business, strengthen UK competitiveness, and give firms the confidence to invest, hire and grow. Chief Economist Louise Hellem gives her thoughts on the Chancellor’s latest statement 👇 www.cbi.org.uk/media-centre...

The latest CBI Industrial Trends Survey showed that output volumes fell in the three months to May. Manufacturers expect output volumes to fall again in the three months to August.

UK CPI #inflation slowed to 2.8% in April, down from a 3.3% uptick in March. Core CPI inflation (excl. energy, food, alcohol, and tobacco) eased sharply to 2.5% (from 3.1% in March), marking the lowest rate since July 2021.

Here are the key UK economic data releases for this week

UK GDP grew by 0.6% in Q1 2026, matching market expectations. These figures come as revised estimates to Q3 and Q4 2025 (both seeing +0.1pp uplifts) left annual GDP growth at 1.4% in 2025.

Here are the key UK economic data releases for this week

UK CPI rose to 3.3% in March as higher oil prices begin to feed through. CBI survey data signals further price pressures ahead. In May’s Economy in Brief, @alpeshpaleja.bsky.social explores how the MPC is responding to the renewed inflationary outlook. Read more🔒 www.cbi.org.uk/articles/eco...

Here are the key UK economic data releases for this week

The Bank of England’s MPC voted 8-1 to leave Bank Rate unchanged at 3.75%. The majority preferred to keep rates on hold given uncertainty over the impact on inflation of the Middle East conflict. A weaker economic outlook could limit the pass-through of higher energy prices.

💸PRICE PRESSURES HAVE INTENSIFIED Our latest Composite Growth Indicator found that selling price expectations have jumped to their strongest in three years, signalling a renewed pick up in pricing intentions despite weak demand.

📉 PRIVATE SECTOR ACTIVITY IS EXPECTED TO FALL AGAIN IN THE COMING MONTHS, WITH PREDICTIONS TURNING SLIGHLY MORE NEGATIVE The CBI’s latest surveys find that firms anticipate another decline in activity in the three months to July.

UK retail conditions deteriorated in April, with sales momentum weakening noticeably against a backdrop of fragile consumer confidence. Activity remained subdued in the wholesale sector amid headwinds from high costs and muted demand. Check out the results from the latest CBI DTS 👇

#Retail sales volumes were judged to be below seasonal norms in April, to a greater extent than in March, according to the CBI Distributive Trades Survey. Retailers anticipate that sales volumes will disappoint for the time of year in May.

Here are the key UK economic data releases and events for this week

#Retail sales volumes rose by 0.7% m/m in March, reversing last month’s decline (sales fell by 0.6% in February). Boosted by strong sales in January and March, underlying momentum continued to improve, with volumes rising by 1.6% over the three months to March.

The latest CBI Industrial Trends Survey found that business sentiment deteriorated rapidly in April, with manufacturers optimism about both the general business situation and their export prospects declining at the fastest since April 2020.

Inflation rose in March, as the energy shock from the Iran conflict began to feed through to the UK economy. We expect the conflict to put upward pressure on households’ bills in the coming months, but a repeat of 2022 seems unlikely at this stage. More details here 👇

UK CPI #inflation rose to 3.3% in March, up from 3.0% in both February and January. Core CPI inflation (excl. energy, food, alcohol, and tobacco) slowed slightly to 3.1% (from 3.2% in February).

Here are the key UK economic data releases for this week

UK GDP rose 0.5% in the three months to February, from 0.3% in the three months to January and no growth in the three months to December. This leaves GDP 1% higher than in February 2025.

Growth is muted, inflation pressures are building, and the Middle East conflict is adding new uncertainty. 📉 Our April Economic Deep Dive breaks down what this means for UK businesses. Exclusive to CBI members🔒: www.cbi.org.uk/articles/cbi...