CLEVELAND Bridge has been a North-East manufacturing bellwether for 135 years.

Manufacturers are usually among the first in and first out of a recession.

So there is reason to be cautiously optimistic at Cleveland Bridge’s success in beating international competition to supply steel for the new Forth Road Bridge, in Scotland.

True, the Chancellor’s recent Autumn Statement was woefully short of Christmas cheer – especially if you are on benefits – but there are tentative signs that the worst may be over.

Among businesses reporting better than expected trading results this month were two leading indicators of consumer confidence – Carpetright and DFS, the furniture retailer.

In another sign of growing confidence, retailers have reported higher spending in the run up to Christmas.

There are even hesitant signs that the stagnant housing market is starting to recover. The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors believes more homes will be sold in 2013 than in 2012 and house prices may start to inch upwards after several years of falling values.

Of course, there are still significant dangers, not least in the Eurozone, that could plunge us back into recession.

Bur for now, the overall picture looks better than it has for some time and that is a very welcome respite.

A growth in confidence will lead to more orders, more investment and, crucially, more jobs.

For the evidence you only have to look at Cleveland Bridge.