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UK business costs

Energy-price concerns reach 72% of UK businesses in ONS survey

Cost concerns are widespread, particularly in hospitality. They do not measure the size of a price rise or establish how much will be passed to customers.

· · 2-minute read

Source released .

Seventy-two of 100 equal units are gold, illustrating the weighted share of businesses reporting some concern about energy prices in late September 2026.
ONS survey, late September 2026. Equal units illustrate the weighted share, not the actual sample size. Concern does not measure bill increases. These are official statistics in development. Source released 8 October 2026.

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What was released

Some 72% of UK businesses reported a degree of concern about energy prices in late September, according to the ONS bulletin released on 8 October. That is the highest proportion since this question began in March 2026, not an all-time historical record.

Concern reached 91% in accommodation and food services. Separately, 73% of businesses expressed concern about increases in fuel prices, the highest reading since that question was introduced in May 2026.

The figures come from Wave 165 of the Business Insights and Conditions Survey, conducted from 21 September to 4 October. The ONS classifies the results as official statistics in development and advises caution because estimates are subject to sampling and other uncertainty.

ONS: Business insights and impact on the UK economy, 8 October 2026, released 8 October 2026.

The Apolifina view

Analysis

For investors assessing company margins, an energy-cost concern is a starting point for questions rather than a forecast of lost profit. A business may have fixed-price contracts, hedges, efficiency measures or scope to change its selling prices.

The figures are also not a consumer inflation release. Concern can rise before costs change, and companies need not pass through every increase. It would be misleading to convert 72% business concern into a claim that 72% of prices are rising.

Sector differences matter. The more useful comparison is between an individual company’s costs, pricing power and disclosed contracts, rather than assuming that all UK businesses face the same exposure.

What remains uncertain

The survey reports what businesses said about concern, not audited energy spending or a quantified earnings impact. Its short question history limits longer-term comparisons.

Risk notice: Information only, not personalised investment advice. General economic information is not a personal investment recommendation. Company earnings and investment values can fall.

Primary source and verification

The 72%, 91% and 73% figures, comparison start dates and fieldwork period were verified in the live ONS bulletin’s Main points and Headline figures. The quality warning is retained rather than treating estimates as exact counts.

Continue reading: Business inflation and wage expectations · Inflation and interest-rate coverage