CHAMBER PRESIDENT ISSUES WAKE-UP CALL TO GOVERNMENTS AS BUSINESS INVESTMENT FLATLINES
• LABOUR COSTS: Labour costs are now the biggest cost pressure and driver of price rises, cited by three-quarters of all firms.
• INVESTMENT: Growth is positive but significantly subdued, with most firms reporting no change to investment levels.
• HOUSEBUILDING: Due to pressures in the housing market, construction firms reported the largest contraction in housebuilding contracts since Q2 2020.
• INTEREST RATES: Interest rates are the second largest concern behind inflation, impacting 40% of all firms.
