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		</div><p><a href="http://londonglossy.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/firms-planning-investment-freezes.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full" title="Business confidence has slipped back for the first time in 18 months, says report" src="http://londonglossy.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/min-firms-planning-investment-freezes.jpg" alt="Business confidence has slipped back for the first time in 18 months, says report"/></a></p>
<p>Firms across Britain are concerned about their prospects for the coming months and plan to freeze investment and raise prices in the face of continuing economic uncertainty, a report has said.</p>
<p>Business confidence has slipped back for the first time in 18 months, according to Lloyds TSB Commercial&#8217;s Business in Britain report, driven by an increase in the number of firms concerned that sales and profits might fall this year.</p>
<p>But firms are confident in export markets as a source of future growth, the twice-yearly report added.</p>
<p>The Business in Britain Confidence Index, which tracks 1,800 firms&#8217; views on sales, order books and profits for the next six months, has slipped to a balance of 12% &#8211; from 18% in the last survey. This balance is 10% below the average of 22% over the survey&#8217;s 16-year history.</p>
<p>John Maltby, managing director of Lloyds TSB Commercial, said that in the face of weakening prospects businesses are toeing a cautious line in terms of investment and recruitment.</p>
<p>He said: &#8220;It is easy to understand why businesses are choosing not to invest. Worries about the economic outlook coupled with the fact that most firms aren&#8217;t operating at full capacity suggest that, on the face of it, a cautious line on spending may seem to be the right approach.&#8221;</p>
<p>The report said only 20% of firms plan to boost investment over the coming six months, while slightly more &#8211; 21% &#8211; plan to cut back, meaning that the balance of firms expecting to increase investment remained unchanged at minus 1%.</p>
<p>Almost two thirds of businesses &#8211; 57% &#8211; said weaker home markets pose the greatest threat to their business over the coming six months.</p>
<p>Despite businesses&#8217; almost universal concerns about domestic demand, most are hopeful about the potential for overseas trade, Lloyds TSB Commercial said.</p>
<p>Some 42% of businesses surveyed believe they will grow exports in the first half of 2011 and that business activity will gain momentum this year.</p>
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