Business News Round Up (18/06/2026)
Scottish manufacturers confident of growth despite market challenges, MHA survey finds
Scottish manufacturers are more confident about the year ahead than they were 12 months ago, with new research from MHA pointing to a sector that is continuing to invest despite rising operational pressures and an ongoing backdrop of global macro-economic uncertainty. The 2026 MHA Manufacturing & Engineering Report shows that 85% senior executives surveyed in Scotland expect growth above 3% in the next 12 months, up from 75% in 2025 – despite citing ongoing conflicts in Iran and Ukraine, cyber security, tax increases and energy costs as hurdles. The UK and Ireland growth figure was 81%. The Scottish findings are contained in a new survey by MHA, one of the country’s leading accountancy and business advisory firms which has offices in Edinburgh and Aberdeen. The survey was completed by 1,000 UK and Ireland C-suite leaders.
UK inflation holds steady in May
The UK Consumer Price Index (CPI) held steady in May, rising by 0.2%, the same rate as in May 2025, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The CPI, including owner occupiers’ housing costs (CPIH) rose by 3.0% in the 12 months to May 2026, unchanged from the 12 months to April. The CPI rose by 2.8% in the 12 months to May 2026, unchanged from the 12 months to April. Transport made the largest upward contribution to the monthly change in both CPIH and CPI annual rates; food and non-alcoholic beverages made the largest, partially offsetting, downward contribution. Core CPIH (CPIH excluding energy, food, alcohol and tobacco) rose by 2.8% in the 12 months to May 2026, unchanged from the 12 months to April; the CPIH goods annual rate slowed from 2.4% to 2.0%, while the CPIH services annual rate rose from 3.4% to 3.6%.
https://www.scottishfinancialnews.com/articles/uk-inflation-held-steady-in-may
North West ‘most optimistic’ region for manufacturing growth – MHA
North West manufacturers are more confident about the year ahead than they were 12 months ago, with new research pointing to a sector that is continuing to invest despite rising operational pressures and an ongoing backdrop of global macro-economic uncertainty. MHA’s Manufacturing Report 2026 shows 81% of the 1,000 manufacturing bosses surveyed last month expect growth above 3% in the next 12 months, up from 77% in 2025, while 26% expect growth above 5%, compared with 22% last year. The survey included responses from 141 manufacturing company executives in the North West, 9% of whom said they expected to grow by more than 3% and 50.4% expecting growth above 5%. This makes the North West the most optimistic region for manufacturing growth. That stronger outlook is being matched by continued investment in research and development, technology and AI, even as supply chain disruption, cybersecurity and energy costs remain major concerns.
Number of job vacancies hits five-year low – Office for National Statistics
The number of job vacancies has fallen to its lowest level for five years as businesses cut back on recruitment, according to the latest official figures. The ONS said that while the labour market remained “broadly stable”, some areas showed signs of weakening. The number of job vacancies in the March to May period fell to 707,000, the ONS said, the lowest level since February to April 2021. Liz McKeown, the ONS’s director of economic statistics, said the further drop in job vacancies suggested that “firms are becoming more cautious about taking on new staff”. The professional services sector saw the largest fall in vacancies, but retail and hospitality also saw significant drops. Data from HMRC shows that the number of new recruits was at a five-year low, with the number of ‘inflows’, or new hires, just under 540,000 in April – the lowest monthly figure since March 2021.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cm203nn7lzro