SME business confidence continues to improve

SME business confidence has continued to improve for the third quarter running, with a net 1% of companies less optimistic about business prospects in comparison to a net 13% in the previous quarter.

However, 57% still view the business environment as either poor or very poor, with 30% expecting conditions to deteriorate over the next 12 months.

According to small business group ISME’s first quarterly trends survey for 2011, both the retail and construction sectors remain the least optimistic, with a 17% of retailers and 16% of construction companies less confident about their business prospects. A net 9% of manufacturing companies are more optimistic, in comparison to a negative figure of 14% in the last quarterly survey.