Business leaders in the North East have retained confidence in the months ahead, making the region the country's most optimistic, research suggests. Researchers compiling the Business Barometer survey from Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking found regional firms' overall confidence was unchanged in December, at 48%. The consistency was helped by a six point bounce in firms' outlook on their own prospects which reached 57%. Meanwhile their optimism in the wider economy fell four points to 42%. The survey, which took into account responses between the end of November and mid-December, pointed to a 31% net balance of businesses across the…
