U.K. brands increase media spend despite economic storm clouds

The media budgets of U.K. advertisers are set to rise over 7% in the first quarter of 2026, despite worries over supply-chain disruption and low consumer confidence . It’s a sign advertisers aren’t acting to pull or pause media investment in the face of slow economic growth prospects, increased tariffs on goods exported to the United States, or the rise in energy prices prompted by the recent war