MORE than half of businesses in Yorkshire feel positive about current trading conditions, claims a survey.

Figures from Bibby Financial Services showed that 56% of firms in the region were upbeat about their current position – while 18% claimed they had actually benefited from the recession.

However, one in five firms in the region admit they’ve had to make cuts or rationalise the business in order to survive – suggesting several business sectors in Yorkshire have been hit hard by the economic downturn.

The Bibby Business Factors Index tracks small business turnover since July 2007.

The data has also been collated with the results of a series of interviews conducted with more than 300 business owners across a range of sectors.

It found that 56% of Yorkshire firms were optimistic about the future against 23% when asked for their view six months ago.

Some 37% feel trading conditions are better than a year ago while 19% think the economy will have recovered by the summer. However, one in five said they had been forced to make cutbacks during the recession.