Business confidence leapt 13 points in June to -18, the highest read since November 2021. Expected own activity jumped 8 points to +3; hardly strong, but the first time in 14 months that it’s been in the black. • Inflation indicators generally eased. Reported inward freight disruption fell to a fresh low. {chart} {table} June saw activity indicators lift in a reasonably broad-based fashion. While the levels of many are still subdued, firms appear to be cautiously optimistic that the worst may be over. Turning to the key themes of the June survey: • The lift in sentiment was widespread, but most marked for the ... (full story)