British firms and consumers upbeat in face of global risks

Business trends report pinpoints growing job prospects, price cuts and low interest rates

Consumers have started the year in confident mood despite the chancellor warning the country faces a "dangerous cocktail of new threats", as the outlook for jobs improves and the cost of a weekly shop is cut by low petrol prices and intense competition among the supermarkets

According to the latest business trends report by accountancy firm BDO, consumers are "enjoying their best start to the year since the financial crisis and are contributing to an upbeat business outlook".