UNITED KINGDOM / AGILITYPR.NEWS / October 26, 2026 / Exclusive FairFuelUK poll of 6,607 firms reveals nearly one in four businesses cannot survive much longer while ministers continue to offer no meaningful relief

Britain's small businesses are facing an economic emergency as Brent crude oil surges above $116 a barrel, pushing the prospect of even higher fuel costs onto businesses already struggling to survive. Reports show Brent crude closing at around $116.72 per barrel, its highest level in nearly six months. [cnbc.com], [financefeeds.com]

A major FairFuelUK poll of 6,607 small businesses reveals a sector on the brink:

• 43.9% are just about surviving
• 30.4% are struggling to survive
• 22.5% say they cannot survive much longer
• Only 3.1% are surviving comfortably

With oil now trading above $116 per barrel, business owners fear another wave of rising pump prices will push thousands more firms towards closure. [cnbc.com], [financefeeds.com]

When asked about the biggest impact of current fuel prices:

• 34.7% said they are being forced to raise prices
• 17.0% said fuel costs threaten the viability of their business
• 15.3% reported severe profit reductions
• 13.3% are suffering cash-flow problems
• 8.6% say jobs are at risk
• 6.2% have delayed investment and expansion
• Only 5% said current fuel prices have had no significant effect.

Howard Cox, Founder of the 17-year Public Affairs Campaign, FairFuelUK, says:

"Oil above $116 should be setting off alarm bells in every Government department. Instead, ministers seem determined to sit on their hands while Britain's economic backbone is being crushed."

"Our poll shows nearly one in four small businesses now believes it cannot survive much longer. That was before any further impact from oil surging beyond $116 a barrel. The reality is that many firms have simply run out of resilience."

"Every builder's van, every taxi, every delivery vehicle, every farmer's tractor and every HGV relies on affordable fuel. When oil spikes, the consequences spread throughout the economy. Food becomes more expensive. Services become more expensive. Inflation rises. Investment stalls. Jobs are put at risk."

"The Government keeps talking about growth. Yet growth cannot happen when the businesses expected to create jobs and generate prosperity are being suffocated by transport costs."

"Britain is Falling Behind"

"While dozens of countries have introduced fuel-tax reductions, subsidies, rebates or other forms of support to protect businesses and households from soaring energy costs, Britain has effectively chosen to do nothing."

"Other governments recognise affordable fuel is an economic necessity. Westminster continues to view drivers and small businesses as a convenient source of tax revenue."

What a random selection of Small Businesses Are Telling FairFuelUK

• "My fuel bill has doubled from £150 per week to nearly £300 per week."
• "Patients are simply coming less often because they can no longer afford the travel costs on top of treatment fees."
• "Everything I buy for my business costs more because of fuel. Combined with excessive pump prices, I'm struggling to keep the business going."
• "Our fuel bill has increased dramatically, due to needing vans and heavy machinery, we are a big diesel user, the cost of fuel has put prices up from our suppliers, with many having several increases per year. This has reduced our profit margin significantly, we were looking to take on an apprentice, but due to the squeeze on our profits we have decided we can not afford to set one on"
• "I do work for the National trust and a few firms in London, these jobs involve lots of miles as well as ULEZ, congestion charge and parking, its getting to the stage where its £100 a day for one vehicle in London and that is without any fines. It is not sustainable. The fuel bill is 25% higher than last year."
• "I am a self-employed owner-driver of a small van subcontractor courier. Fuel prices are ridiculous. I do most work through a major UK same-day courier company, and they have increased our job payments slightly, but it doesn't really make a dent in the increase in costs. When multisourcing work through the Courier Exchange, I can completely set my own prices and pass them on to the customer (courier businesses). This, however, increases the prices of everything and causes inflation. This Labour regime is too economically illiterate to understand that - and probably don't care anyway, as they are only interested in ridiculous box-ticking virtue signalling like Net-Stupid-Zero."
• "Fuel is now more than 50% of turnover"

Howard Cox Response

"These are not statistics. These are real businesses, real livelihoods and real families under pressure. Each of these businesses represents thousands more across the country facing the same struggle. As oil rises above $116 a barrel, their situation will become even harder."

Biz Poll: Carried out in October 2026: https://fuel-impact-pulse.base44.app