A REPORT out today says people in the North-west are increasingly worried about job prospects this year.

The London-based economic consultancy Business Strategies says there has been a sharp rise over the past three months in the proportion of those who expect unemployment to worsen over the next 12 months.

Senior Economist Melanie Lansbury told a conference: "There has been a dramatic reversal of sentiment in the region.

"For more than three years the proportion of those expecting unemployment to fall has been way ahead of those expecting it to rise.

"But in the North-west now the pessimists have a six point lead over the optimists."

She went on: "This compares with a 29-point lead for the optimists a year ago.

"It is the worst result since the first quarter of 1993."

The report also shows that consumers in the North-west are now less optimistic about the economic outlook for the coming 12 months.

It has adversely affected the expectations for household finances this year and spending predictions have also been revised downwards.

Consumer spending growth in the North-west is forecast to slow to 0.5 per cent this year compared with growth of 3.5 per cent last year.

The North-west "feel good factor" has been particularly hard hit along with others throughout the UK.

Northern Ireland people are the only ones marginally more confident than they were three months ago.

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