Hopes that small business confidence levels in the South West were bouncing back have been dashed in our latest quarterly survey of local business positivity.
The findings of the FSB's first quarterly confidence report in the spring were that business confidence had shown a sudden upsurge but the latest results have shown that the momentum was short-lived.
The new figures – taken after FSB members and guests took part in the survey in the first week of July – reveal that confidence has dipped again slightly and the overall picture is still one that reflects the concerns that the economic situation remains very difficult for many small business owners and the self-employed.
Despite the headline fall in confidence – mainly cited by SMEs as because of the general economic situation, sluggish consumer demand and rising costs - there were still some positive signs that small businesses do feel the situation is going to approve.
FSB regional policy chair Craig Carey-Clinch said that although the headline figures were disappointing these signs are something to build on.
“The reality is that business confidence – like the economy that influences it – is just in a totally uncertain place. All we can hope is that some of the positive signs we are seeing can be built on and increasing confidence can start to become the norm again rather than the exception."
The regional figures were released as part of the overall national FSB confidence report for the quarter which saw a more dramatic fall in confidence than has been seen in the South West.