Yorkshire business confidence up

12/10/2009

There are signs that business confidence is creeping back into Yorkshire after two surveys revealed improvements in turnover expectations in Leeds, York and Bradford.
The Leeds, York & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce said its Quarterly Economic Survey for the period between July and September showed greater expectations for turnover and profit in both the manufacturing and service sectors.
It also found that the manufacturing sector reported improvements in turnover of 41% since the second quarter and the service sector added 16%.
The same third-quarter economic study carried out by Bradford Chamber of Commerce backed up the claims, as it saw that investment and turnover had both picked up.
However, in Bradford, the study found sales and orders were still 'hard to find', particularly in the manufacturing sector.
Leeds also sounded a note of caution and said despite improvements in both turnover and profit expectations for both sectors over the next 12 months, it is still too early to announce the beginning of a recovery.
Ian Williams, director of policy at Leeds, York & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, said: "This quarter has revealed a real mix of results."
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