Conducted biannually, it aims to establish how businesses have fared in the last few months, building a picture of the needs and opportunities that exist in the Buckinghamshire business community.

The latest survey results

In the latest survey of 109 businesses, surveyed between 2nd December 2025 and 9th January 2026, we explore the impacts of announcements in the 2025 Autumn Budget on Buckinghamshire’s businesses, as well as the key challenges businesses expect to face in 2026, and the extent of recruitment challenges due to skills shortages. 

This valuable insight into the local economy informs our conversations with government and other stakeholders, to ensure the voice of Buckinghamshire firms is recognised. 

Headline insights include:

• When asked about their trading conditions compared to normal for this time of year, 45% of businesses reported conditions were worse than normal, and 13% reported conditions were better than normal. 
• The net balance* of trading conditions compared to normal was -32%, consistent with the previous Q2 2025 barometer (-31%), but remaining negative. 
• A net balance of 75% of businesses reported increased costs in the past 12 months. Net balances for profitability and turnover were both negative (-36% and -12% respectively). 
• Following the announcements made at Autumn Budget 2025, almost two thirds of businesses (65%) were less confident about the year ahead. 
  • Key reasons for reduced confidence included: rising costs, taxation and policy uncertainty, and reduced demand from consumers / businesses. 
• Going into 2026, common challenges which businesses expected to face included: rising operational costs, recruitment and skills shortages, market uncertainty with weak demand, difficulties in generating and retaining sales, cash flow pressures, and an increasing compliance and regulatory burden.
• About a third of responding businesses had tried to recruit in the past 12 months, with half of these businesses struggling to recruit due to a lack of skills in applicants.

*The % of firms reporting an increase minus the % reporting a decrease.

Read the full Business Barometer results

Download the Business Barometer Q4 2025 results here (PDF) >

Discover more research and insights

Visit the Reports and Analysis section of the website for more insights into the Buckinghamshire economy.

Whatever your business needs, our team is here

However your business is doing, whatever your hopes are for it, whatever challenges and opportunities you see in front of you, the team here at Buckinghamshire Business First is by your side.

There are a lot of businesses that can vouch for the support we've given them, so do reach out to us to start a conversation about how we can help you.

Email [email protected], call 01494 927130, or fill in a quick online form.