Growth of business confidence slows

BUSINESS confidence among UK firms fell back in recent weeks, showing that the recovery from recession was likely to be "gradual and uneven", according to a new report published today.

A survey of 200 companies by Lloyds TSB showed that just over half were more upbeat than a year ago, while one in five was more pessimistic.

But confidence levels are still higher than a year ago, the report said. Distributors were more confident than firms in services.