MANUFACTURERS saw the sharpest fall in orders for two years in the past quarter, a survey showed.
But North-East manufacturers emerged relatively unscathed, with output rising slightly.
Most UK regions saw orders fall markedly in the three months to April, according to the latest regional trends survey by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) and credit checking specialists Experian.
The survey found widespread evidence in the regions of a difficult trading environment marked by weak orders, rising costs, falling output and further job losses.
Three regions in particular - Northern Ireland, the North-West and the West Midlands - bore the brunt of the weak demand, although there was a more positive situation in Scotland and Wales.
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