UK Small Business Under Pressure as Budget Fears Bite

UK companies are facing increased strain, with the latest data on small-business confidence and corporate distress underscoring the anxiety over higher taxes in next month’s budget.

Nearly a third of small companies — a record high — predict they’ll downsize, sell up or close down in the next year, according to the research by the Federation of Small Businesses. That compares to just 18% that expect to expand in that time.