BRITAIN’S businesses are suffering from Brexit-related uncertainty as exports slow, recruitment difficulties mount and investment plans are scaled back, two surveys showed yesterday.

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) said its survey of 5,600 companies, the largest of its kind in Britain, showed services firms were having the most trouble finding staff since the survey began in 1989, and growth in factory exports was the slowest since late 2016.

Last week, Prime Minister Theresa May told her Conservative Party to back her plan to leave the European Union as Britain entered “the toughest part of the negotiations.”

Britain’s economy has lagged behind the growth rate of many other rich countries for much of the period since the Brexit vote.

The BCC’s quarterly survey showed that the percentage of services businesses looking to recruit more staff over the next three months fell to 47 percent from 60 percent, the lowest since the first quarter of 1993. Seventy-two percent of firms reported recruitment difficulties, the highest on record.

For manufacturers, growth in both export sales and new export orders was the slowest since the end of 2016.

“Weaker sterling is no longer providing a boon to many of our exporters, while consumer spending is failing to boost the domestic market,” Marshall said.

Separately yesterday, accountancy firm Deloitte said its survey of chief financial officers pointed to slower business spending and hiring after Brexit.

Only 13 percent of CFOs were more optimistic about the prospects for their company than they were three months ago, down from 24 percent in July, Deloitte said. (SD-Agencies)