WORCESTERSHIRE's economic recovery is well on track, according to a regional business report.

The latest quarterly economic survey carried out by Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce shows the area's business barometer continues to rise steadily.

Chamber chief executive Mike Ashton said: "Following the strong growth in the fourth quarter of 2014, the quarterly economic survey for the first quarter of 2015 shows that there is a slackening in the growth rate, but still steady growth nonetheless. Herefordshire and Worcestershire returned the fifth highest amount of responses, meaning our results can be corroborated against national trends, which makes the strong performances in export sales and orders even more impressive.“

The results of the most recent instalment of the quarterly survey reflect the current economic trends observed across the country: slow, but steady economic growth, with an emphasis on consumer spending. Overseas sales and orders in Herefordshire and Worcestershire have consistently grown in the period after the recession, with 64 per cent growth in the West Midlands, 30 per cent higher than any other region. The results of the first quarter again showed continued growth in this field, while nationally sales fell in both sectors.

The survey, which covered 408 responses from businesses in Herefordshire and Worcestershire, is completed on a quarterly basis and goes on, not only to influence local decision makers, but is fed directly to the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee, the arm of the bank responsible for setting Britain’s interest rates.