UK business morale hits 17-month low, Lloyds says

LONDON, Sept 30 (Reuters) - ‌British firms ​turned ​the least confident since April 2025 in September, according to a Lloyds survey ‌on Wednesday that also showed executives' view of ⁠the global economic outlook darkened as the Iran war ‌pushes up costs.

"September's fall ‌in business confidence was driven primarily by a significant decline in economic optimism, with businesses ​responding to a combination of higher global energy prices and increased global uncertainty," Hann-Ju Ho, ⁠senior economist at Lloyds Commercial Banking, said.

"(The) trading outlook also fell, ​suggesting that firms are becoming more cautious about the outlook for demand and activity ​over the coming year."

• The ‌Lloyds Bank monthly business confidence index declined by 12 points in September ⁠to +41%, below its average of +47% over the past 12 months

• Optimism about the wider economy dropped 18 points ⁠to +31%, six points below its 12-month average of +37%

• Firms' ​own trading outlook fell 8 points to +50%, below its 12-month average of +56%

• The percentage of firms planning to raise ‌prices in the next 12 months rose slightly

• Lloyds data was based on ‌an Ipsos survey, conducted between September 2 and ⁠September 16, of ‌1,200 British businesses ​with annual sales of at least £250,000 ($331,400)

($1 = 0.7544 pounds)

(Reporting by Suban Abdulla; editing by David ‌Milliken)

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