56% of UK firms with delayed investment plans look to increase spending after Budget, Barclays finds

• Barclays research finds 56% of UK businesses with delayed investment plans likely to increase investment following the Autumn Budget, versus 38% previously.
• Planned spending is expected to rise 6.7% over the next 12 months, averaging £564,000 per business.
• AI adoption leads investment priorities at 58%, followed by cybersecurity and data protection at 55%.
• Policy certainty is sufficient for 51% of business leaders to invest, though 26% plan to resume investment at reduced scale.
• Consumers remain cautious, with 32% less confident about nonessential spending; 29% report weaker confidence in household finances.

Disclaimer: This news brief was created by Public Technologies (PUBT) using generative artificial intelligence. While PUBT strives to provide accurate and timely information, this AI-generated content is for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as financial, investment, or legal advice. Barclays plc published the original content used to generate this news brief on November 09, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained therein.