City traders ‘to struggle’

Published on 23/01/2013 12:00

Retail and tourism businesses in the Capital will continue to struggle with difficult trading conditions during the first half of this year, the Scottish Chambers of Commerce has said.

The business body released its survey results today for last year’s final quarter. Thirty-six per cent of respondents in construction reported being less confident about prospects compared to the third quarter.

The pessimism was matched by 47 per cent of retail and 36 per cent of tourism businesses. An unexpected rise in optimism was reported by the manufacturing sector.