Kent’s Quarterly Economic Survey Q4 2025
📊 Kent Business Outlook: Q4 2025 – Resilience Amid Rising Challenges
As we close 2025, Kent’s business community faces renewed challenges. After a brief rise in confidence last quarter, domestic demand has weakened, with both sales and orders declining. Cost pressures remain high, especially for labour and utilities, and recruitment and investment in training have slowed further.
Business confidence has dipped, with fewer firms expecting turnover or profitability to improve in the year ahead. Manufacturing shows more optimism than services, but overall sentiment is cautious.
Kent’s picture is consistent with national sentiment. The British Chambers of Commerce report that fewer than half of UK firms expect turnover to rise over the next 12 months, with taxation concerns intensifying and more businesses anticipating price increases.
I want to acknowledge that this quarter’s survey drew fewer responses than usual, and while the trends are clear, the lower return warrants some caution in interpretation. Even so, the message is unmistakable: firms are navigating persistent cost pressures, weaker domestic demand, and subdued investment intentions.
As your Chamber, we will continue to advocate for policies that relieve the burden on employers, unlock skills investment, and create the conditions for private‑sector growth so that Kent businesses can move from resilience to renewed momentum in the year ahead.
TUDOR PRICE
Chief Executive
Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce
