Business confidence rose slightly in March

Business confidence rose slightly in March

BDO Stoy Hayward Survey finds reasons to be cheerful

Business confidence has improved slightly for the short-term at least, the
latest Business Trends survey by BDO Stoy Hayward has found.

The survey’s short term confidence measure, based on order book strength and
turnover expectations, rose 2.3 points to 88.6 in March. It was the second
consecutive monthly increase.

But improved confidence did not translate into hopes for a turnaround. There
was little change in the survey’s optimism index, based on perceived prospects
for the next two quarters.

Businesses are expecting unemployment to rise to 7.6 per cent up from 6.5 per
cent over the next three months, which will add 350,000 to jobless queues.

Another report from Lloyds TSB Corporate Markets showed improved confidence
on business activity levels in some areas, and mainly in smaller businesses.

Share

Subscribe to get your daily business insights

Resources & Whitepapers

Why Professional Services Firms Should Ditch Folders and Embrace Metadata
Professional Services

Why Professional Services Firms Should Ditch Folders and Embrace Metadata

3y

Why Professional Services Firms Should Ditch Folde...

In the past decade, the professional services industry has transformed significantly. Digital disruptions, increased competition, and changing market ...

View resource
2 Vital keys to Remaining Competitive for Professional Services Firms

2 Vital keys to Remaining Competitive for Professional Services Firms

3y

2 Vital keys to Remaining Competitive for Professi...

In recent months, professional services firms are facing more pressure than ever to deliver value to clients. Often, clients look at the firms own inf...

View resource
Turn Accounts Payable into a value-engine
Accounting Firms

Turn Accounts Payable into a value-engine

3y

Turn Accounts Payable into a value-engine

In a world of instant results and automated workloads, the potential for AP to drive insights and transform results is enormous. But, if you’re still ...

View resource
Digital Links: A guide to MTD in 2021
Making Tax Digital

Digital Links: A guide to MTD in 2021

3y

Digital Links: A guide to MTD in 2021

The first phase of Making Tax Digital (MTD) saw the requirement for the digital submission of the VAT Return using compliant software. That’s now behi...

View resource