UK businesses still ‘reluctant to invest’ over Brexit and interest rates

British Chambers of Commerce survey finds EU trade barriers and high rates have flattened' investment

UK businesses are reluctant to make large investments in machinery and new technology while barriers to trade with the EU remain in place and interest rates are high, according to a survey by the British Chambers of Commerce.

The business lobby group said the vast majority of respondents to its quarterly economic survey had frozen or cut investment plans while only 23% said they were considering fresh injections of cash to improve the way they operated.