The Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire economy continued to improve in the final three months of 2013, according to the Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Chamber of Commerce (DNCC).
Its quarterly survey found businesses reporting increased sales and orders in the UK and export markets.
One in five firms increased the size of its workforce during the quarter. There was another increase in firms expressing confidence in their prospects for the year ahead, with 66 per cent believing their turnover would increase and 54 per cent forecasting an increase in profits.
The Chamber uses the results of the survey to produce a State of the Economy index, which tracks a number of key business performance indicators each quarter.
The second quarter of 2013 saw the index increase by 141 points to 215 and this growth continued in Q3 with the index increasing by a further 139 points to 354. This growth was consolidated in Q4, as the index increased by a further 14 points to 368 – its highest level since the Chamber began measuring performance in September 2007.
Reflecting on the results, DNCC Chief Executive George Cowcher said: “The results from Q4 show that the local economy in 2013 ended on a high and it’s great to be starting the new year on the back of another set of positive survey results.
“This renewed sense of optimism reflects a steep increase in business activity throughout the year and the continuing orders and enquires for the start of 2014.