FSB: Optimism up in the south, down in north east

According to the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) their confidence index report found:

• While optimism had picked up across nearly the whole of the UK, London was far more up beat than other regions. The capital came in at 46%, while there were much lower levels of confidence in northern regions.
• Confidence in the north east decreased.

• FSB members reported that inflationary pressures have eased as just over 60% said that the cost of doing business had increased in the quarter, below the peak in late 2011 of 75% and below the last three quarters.

• Firms are also seeing cheaper finance but there has been little year-on-year movement in the percentage of companies applying for credit.