Poll reveals pessimism on economy

The poll suggested that Scots were more pessimistic than other Britons

More than a third of people in Scotland believe economic conditions north of the border will get worse over the next year, a survey has suggested.

The poll for Ipsos Mori showed that 36% thought conditions would deteriorate over the next 12 months.

Some 34% of respondents said it would improve and 25% said it would the same.

The survey found that people were more optimistic about the British economy, with 28% believing conditions would get worse and 44% better.

A majority of people in Scotland (53%) thought it was more difficult to pay household bills now than it was in August 2008, with 18% finding it a lot more difficult.

The research also revealed that respondents in Scotland were more pessimistic than others in Britain as a whole.

Results from another poll, covering all of Britain, also carried out towards the end of August, found that 27% thought economic conditions would get worse over the next 12 months, 26% thought they would stay the same and 43% believed they would improve.