Cost of living squeeze ‘is holding back’ UK small businesses

FSB says business confidence is rising but soaring costs and weakening demand is still slowing growth

Small businesses across Britain are warning that the cost of living squeeze is holding back economic growth, after two in five company bosses reported a drop in sales at the start of the year.

The Federation of Small Businesses said that although business confidence was rising among bosses before the summer, soaring costs and weakness in consumer demand were still weighing on activity.