Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the release of the Quarterly Economic Survey (QES) Report for Q1 2026, supported by Worcestershire County Council.
The QES is the UK’s largest independent business survey and provides a key snapshot of business performance and sentiment across the region. It is closely watched by policymakers and feeds into national economic indicators via the British Chambers of Commerce network.
This quarter’s results are based on responses from 259 organisations across a wide range of sectors.
Key Findings – Q1 2026
The latest results show that business conditions remain mixed, with ongoing pressure on costs and investment, alongside resilient but cautious trading conditions.
- UK sales: +9% net balance (up from -2%); 31% increased, 22% decreased
- UK orders: 0% net balance (up from -15%); 23% increased, 23% decreased
- Overseas sales: +3% net balance (unchanged); 10% increased, 8% decreased
- Overseas orders: -2% net balance (from -4%); 8% increased, 10% decreased
- Cash flow: -5% net balance; 25% improved, 30% worsened, 45% unchanged
Overview
Overall, the Q1 2026 findings highlight a business community operating in a challenging but gradually stabilising environment. While UK sales and orders show encouraging improvement, this is tempered by continued cash flow pressures, cautious investment, and subdued confidence.
Businesses continue to demonstrate resilience in trading performance, but uncertainty remains a defining feature of the current economic landscape.
The findings provide valuable insight into the realities facing local firms and help inform both regional support and national policy discussions.
We would like to thank all 259 organisations that took part in this quarter’s survey. Your input is vital in ensuring the QES continues to represent the voice of businesses across the region.
Download the full report here:
Q1 2026 Report