Falling orders

Most

regions saw new manufacturing orders fall markedly in recent months, with manufacturers in large parts of the country reporting a further drop in overall confidence - according to the latest Regional Trends Survey published yesterday by the

and Experian.

At the UK level, the fall in new orders was the sharpest for two years, and there is widespread evidence among the regions of a difficult environment for the sector characterised by weak orders, rising costs, falling output and further job losses.

The quarterly survey shows that three regions in particular - Northern Ireland, the North West and the West Midlands - have borne the brunt of the weak demand that has emerged in recent months, with the decline in business confidence and export optimism much steeper than the UK average.

The survey shows that these regions were hardest hit by the fall in total orders for the second survey in a row, and this is reflected in a steep fall in output in the past six months.