THE region's businesses closed 2004 with bumper profits, according to new data.
But businesses are making an apprehensive start to 2005 with many fearful that short-term trading will be difficult. A survey of companies showed more respondents than before predicted business conditions will worsen over the next quarter.
The evidence took the shine off trading figures at the back end of 2004. Both the manufacturing and services sectors took advantage of the profitable period.
Of all companies surveyed, 46.2 per cent recorded higher profits from September to the end of December, 33.6 per cent were the same while 20.2 per cent were lower.
The findings came in the latest Business Survey North East commissioned by the North East Chamber of Commerce (NECC)
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