Confidence among small business entrepreneurs has plunged to new lows as "headwinds against them right now are gale-force", latest survey figures from the Federation of Small Business reveal.
According to the latest Small Business Index (SBI), cost pressures, falling revenues and a growing reliance on debt to prop up cashflows are causing the greatest level of pessimism among small business owners outside of lockdowns.
Among the gloomy findings, the UK headline small business confidence measure had plummeted to -35.9 in Q3 2022, down 11.2 points compared to the previous quarter.