Business confidence rises in the region  Â

BUSINESS confidence in the south east rebounded in July, climbing by 10 points to 25 per cent, according to the latest figures.

The Business Barometer from Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking, which questions 1,200 businesses every month, found that companies in the region saw confidence in their business prospects rise 13 points to 36 per cent while economic optimism climbed seven points to 14 per cent. 

Rising confidence has also boosted companies' hiring intentions, with a net balance of 20 per cent of businesses in the region expecting to hire more staff during the next year, up four points on last month.

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Nationally, overall confidence edged ahead to 30 per cent, up one point on June, as firms' optimism about the economy rose two points to 25 per cent. Firms' confidence in their own business prospects was steady at 34 per cent.

Mark Burton, regional director at Lloyds, said: '˜Figures from across the south east paint an encouraging picture. It's clear that firms are feeling more optimistic about the UK economy and, in turn, their own future prospects.'Â