JOB losses and the threat of more to come could lead to an adverse effect on the current "feel good factor" in the North-west.

Consumer Futures, the consumer research arm of economic analyst Business Strategies, says that in the run-up to the General Election, consumer confidence in the region has not been seriously affected by the foot-and-mouth epidemic and its knock-on effects.

But it believes people are clearly worried about the possible effects of the slowdown in the US economy.

At the moment the figures suggested that consumer confidence in the region has been buoyed by lower inflation, lower unemployment and lower interest rates.