Business confidence across Britain has slumped, putting up to 30,000 manufacturing jobs at risk, research suggested today.
The latest Regional Trend Survey by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) and Business Strategies showed business confidence and optimism about export prospects over the year ahead had fallen sharply across every region in the UK.
The CBI said that sentiment, already hit by the slowing global economy, had been further dented by the September 11th attacks.
It means manufacturers were likely to announce new job cuts.
All 11 regions expect employment to fall over the next four months, with the north-east most affected.
Business Strategies associate director Mr Peter Gutmann said: "The severe slowdown in the global economy and the prospect of worse to come has undermined optimism in all regions".
