A few days ago the Northamptonshire Chamber of Commerce sent MPs an update of how the county was performing in economic and business terms. The report contained good news for the area.
ECONOMIC INTELLIGENCE
Feedback from Northamptonshire Chamber members and statistical evidence from the Chamber’s Quarterly Economic Survey (QES) for the fourth quarter of 2013 reveal a continuing upward trend for exporting by county firms and confirms that Northamptonshire businesses are recruiting again and continuing to show growing confidence in the local economy during the fourth quarter of 2013.
- 88% of manufacturers who responded to the survey reported their export sales had remained the same or increased during Q4 of 2013.
- About three quarters of these said they had experienced increased export sales.
- 93% of those in the service sector reported an increase or level export sales over the last three months and an equivalent number reporting increased or level advance orders.
- 100% of respondents in the service sector said they expected their workforce to increase or stay the same over the next three months.
- Only 3% of the manufacturing respondents had reduced their workforce in the fourth quarter with nearly one third expecting their workforce to increase over the coming three months.
- Northamptonshire businesses in both sectors continue to show confidence in both turnover and profitability over the next 12 months.
o 98% (up from 95% prior quarter) of manufacturers expect turnover to improve or stay the same.
o With the service sector 95% expect turnover and 90% expect profitability to improve or remain the same over the coming year.
You can read more on this economic report in Chris Heaton-Harris MP's blog post on the subject at: http://daventrycalling.livejournal.com/234536.html