IN keeping with recent trends, the overall turnover figures and employee numbers from businesses in Darlington and South-West Durham are continuing to show positive signs.

The average confidence figure is still negative, however it is not such a bad outlook as previous months.

The quarterly business confidence monitor from the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) and Orange UK showed that North-East advisors were 61 per cent as confident, if not more so, in the economic prospects facing their business over the next 12 months, compared to the previous 12 months.

This is slightly higher than the UK average but a lot lower than figures from the same period last year.

Another study published by Orange found that call centres in the North-East account for five per cent of all jobs - with Orange employing more than 2,000 people in its Darlington call centre.

Tony Luckett, a partner at Clive Owen and Co chartered accountants and business advisors, said: "The company is exploring the Indian market and currently employing 750 people out there, although this has not shown any signs of impacting on the Darlington operation."

Unemployment levels, monitored by the Office for National Statistics, show an increase of more than 1,000 people in the Tees Valley in January.

There is potential for more jobs coming to Darlington - with The Student Loans Company, based in Glasgow, considering expansion at its Darlington base at Mowden Hall. This could add another 40 jobs to the existing staff of 58.

Mr Luckett said: "In terms of our general local economy, both homes and businesses are affected by rising operating costs from increasing gas and electricity prices.

"The Office for National Statistics agrees that manufacturers are facing the biggest squeeze between input and output prices for 30 years.

"With so many points of analysis available to dissect our local business environment, it is good to see that many, including the ICAEW, are predicting 2006 to be a more successful year in business than 2005.

* The index assesses local business activity based on figures filed by a selection of firms in and around the Darlington area over the course of the past month. The business index figures compare and assess current business performance with previous months.