Almost seven in ten UK businesses are concerned about energy prices, according to the latest official survey, with worries about fuel costs rising even faster.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) found that 69% of businesses expressed some degree of concern about energy prices in late October 2026, up six percentage points since August. Concern about fuel prices stood at 70%, up eight points over the same period.

The figures come from wave 167 of the Business Insights and Conditions Survey, which ran from 19 October to 1 November and drew 9,628 responses from a sample of 38,542 businesses. Larger firms were more worried still: among businesses with ten or more employees, 77% were concerned about energy prices and 76% about fuel prices.

Costs still climbing the worry list

Energy and fuel were not the only pressures on firms' minds. The same survey also asked businesses about cyber attacks and artificial intelligence, with concern about both rising alongside cost worries. The ONS describes the results as official statistics in development and advises caution when using them, because the survey is voluntary and the figures are estimates subject to sampling uncertainty.

The survey is run twice a month and covers private-sector businesses across the UK. The next release is due on 19 November 2026.

For many firms, energy remains one of the largest controllable costs, and the latest figures suggest the pressure has not eased since the summer. With winter approaching, businesses will be watching both their bills and the next round of survey data for any sign that the squeeze is easing.