Manufacturing confidence 'slides'

Confidence among UK manufacturing firms has fallen to its lowest level in two years, a survey suggests.

The Business Trends optimism index from the accountants BDO fell to 90.1 last month, from 97.5 in May, and way down from 116.4 in February.

BDO said the drop could be attributed to slackening demand domestically as well as the global economic slowdown.



It also pointed out business sentiment in the eurozone has been hit by the ongoing sovereign debt crisis.

BDO said such a large slump in business confidence in the manufacturing sector was of real concern, given that the sector has provided the propulsion for the economic recovery so far.
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