Export optimism

In-Depth

According to a survey released this week, prospects for Britain's manufacturers have improved for the first time since July 2004 with several regions showing a particularly marked improvement.

Manufacturers' optimism about future export prospects has improved for the first time since July 2004 with several regions showing a particularly marked improvement, according to the latest

.

The strong economic picture globally and, in particular, signs of recovery across the Eurozone market, has helped boost UK demand in recent months. A small improvement in domestic conditions also supported national business confidence in the past quarter, which stabilised following 18 months of deterioration.

In four UK regions, the upturn in export sentiment was particularly marked, with the East Midlands seeing the strongest improvement since mid-2003. Scotland, the East of England and the South East & London also experienced a surge in optimism. The West Midlands saw an encouraging, if modest, rise in export confidence, boosted by a rebound in total orders – the strongest for two years – with chemicals and man-made fibres and metal manufacturing doing particularly well.

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