Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the release of the Quarterly Economic Survey (QES) Report for Q2 2026, supported by Worcestershire County Council.
Based on responses from 226 organisations, the survey provides a snapshot of business performance and confidence across the region.
Key Findings – Q2 2026
- UK sales: +5% net balance (down from +9% in Q1)
- UK orders: -3% net balance (down from 0% in Q1)
- Overseas sales: +3% net balance (unchanged)
- Overseas orders: -1% net balance (up from -2% in Q1)
- Cash flow: +3% net balance (up from -5% in Q1)
Overview
The Q2 results suggest that businesses continue to demonstrate resilience despite ongoing economic pressures. Domestic demand softened during the quarter, with both UK sales and orders declining compared to Q1, while international trading activity remained broadly stable.
Cash flow showed encouraging improvement, moving from a negative balance in Q1 to a positive balance of 3% in Q2, reflecting greater financial stability for many firms.
Recruitment remains a significant challenge across the region. Half of businesses attempted to recruit during the quarter, with 43% reporting difficulties filling vacancies, particularly for skilled manual and technical roles. Despite this, 24% of businesses increased their workforce over the last three months, while 23% expect to grow staffing levels during the next quarter, indicating continued confidence in future activity.
This quarter’s survey also explored workforce health and wellbeing, with findings showing that many organisations are embedding wellbeing initiatives into their wider people and business strategies. Most businesses reported adopting supportive or preventative approaches to employee wellbeing, recognising its importance in driving productivity, retention and long-term growth.
We would like to thank all 226 organisations that took part in this quarter’s survey. Your feedback helps ensure the QES continues to represent the voice of businesses across Herefordshire and Worcestershire.
Download the full report here:
Q2 2026 Report