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LONDON—September 10, 2026—The 2026 Transatlantic Confidence Index from BritishAmerican Business (BAB) and Bain & Company, which surveyed 74 leading transatlantic companies, reveals a modest recovery in confidence in the transatlantic economy following last year’s sharp decline.
The overall Index, which remained stable at 7.0-7.2 out of 10 between 2021 and 2024 before falling to 6.6 last year, edged up to 6.7 in 2026. While investment intentions remain strong on both sides of the Atlantic, businesses continue to raise concerns about tax, regulation, energy costs and policy predictability.
Among the key findings of the survey:
- US companies’ confidence in the UK rose slightly from 6.3 to 6.4, following last year’s record low.
- US investors’ top priorities are a predictable, business-friendly tax and regulatory environment, alongside regulatory reform and delivery of the UK’s growth agenda. 92% of US respondents said implementation of a pro-growth agenda was highly important to their future investment in the UK.
- UK companies’ confidence in the US rebounded from 7.5 to 8.1, recovering much of last year’s decline.
- UK companies want the US to keep markets open and maintain strong economic ties with key trading partners.
- Investment intentions remain strong, with 86% of UK respondents planning to moderately or significantly increase their investment in the US, while most US respondents expect to maintain or increase their investment in the UK over the next two to three years.
- US investors’ perceptions of UK political stability deteriorated sharply, with its net attractiveness score falling from +37 in 2025 to -12 in 2026.
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