There is an old saying that "hope springs eternal". In business, however, hope alone is never enough. Optimism must be backed by investment, ambition and a willingness to grasp new opportunities when they emerge.

Our chart this week show how the England and Wales official population estimate of 62m on 30 June 2025 is distributed by region.

The Senedd election is now behind us, the UK has a new Prime Minister, and a fresh chapter in Welsh public policy is beginning. With new administrations taking shape and priorities being set, there is a renewed opportunity to focus on what matters most: delivering sustainable economic growth for Wales.

The latest national Business Confidence Monitor (BCM) shows that the Iran War significantly dented confidence as it dropped to a near four-year low and suffered its sixth successive negative quarterly score. Companies reported rising costs pressures, weaker expected sales and profits growth for the coming year, while late payment concerns hit a five-year high.