Business confidence in Scotland has fallen and now stands at one of the lowest rates in the country, as companies face a cost of doing business crisis.
The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) Business Confidence Monitor for Scotland found sentiment to be in negative territory, with only Wales recording a lower reading.
Scottish companies said that regulatory requirements and tax, labour market and transport issues were taking their toll. Input price inflation has also hit the country’s businesses, leading to a rise in selling costs and salaries.
