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A study by Plimsoll Publishing has examined how the UK slow-down is already impacting on the m&e contracting market.

The analysis, which will be published in full on 1 May, has drawn on the latest figures for each of the UK鈥檚 top 600 m&e companies.

The headline findings are stark:

鈥� Over a third of firms are showing signs of recessionary behaviour by reporting declining sales.

鈥� More than half have seen their margins fall. A quarter of these are actually running at a loss.

鈥� Almost one third have seen an increase in their need for short term finance.

鈥� As many as one in 10 m&e contracting businesses could disappear entirely if this trend continues.

David Pattison, senior analyst at Plimsoll, said: 鈥淲e are reading every day how the credit market and the world of finance is being hit, but nonetheless I was still surprised to see just how much the m&e contracting market is feeling the pressure. I hope this report is recognised as an early warning and managers read this and use the findings to steer a course through these tricky times.鈥�