Business confidence has fallen in nine of the UK's 11 regions, with the two exceptions only narrowly escaping a fall themselves, according to the latest Regional Trends Survey, published 4 August by the CBI and Experian Business Strategies.
The only two regions to avoid a decline in sentiment over the last quarter were Northern Ireland, recording a balance of plus one per cent, and the South East and London, recording a balance of plus three per cent. Wales suffered the sharpest drop in confidence in the UK, reporting a balance of minus 38 per cent.
But the survey showed more encouraging signs for exporters over the next quarter. For the first time in 15 months, over half of the UK regions expect export orders to rise. Most optimistic of the six regions predicting a rise are the North West and Wales, followed by Yorkshire and the Humber, the East Midlands, Northern Ireland and the South East and London.
