The number of companies in the South West falling into administration in the first quarter of this year fell by 15% to 41 against 48 in the same period last year.
However, when compared with the final three months of last year they were up by 64%.
The figures emerge from research by Deloitte, the business advisory firm with an office in Bristol.
The office’s restructuring services partner Robin Allen said: “While conditions undoubtedly remain tough, the year-on-year decline is a positive indicator and gives a glimmer of hope that some industries are potentially over the worst.
“Over the past few years we’ve seen administrations peak in the first few months of the year as businesses contend with factors such as losses over Christmas and gloomy economic predictions for the year ahead.
“However, as confidence increases as the year progresses administrations have tended to tail off. This is certainly the pattern we saw in the region in 2011 as administrations decreased by 48% from Q1 to Q4 last year.”
Nationally, first quarter administrations fell by only 7% between 2011 and 2012.
“It is still early days for 2012 however, the difference between the national picture and the one here in the South West could be an indication that businesses in the region are currently in a stronger position than in other parts of the UK,” said Mr Allen.
“The South West is well represented in the property, hospitality and food and drink sectors which are in the main doing well. The region has also not been as badly affected as other areas by increasing numbers of retail administrations.”
