BIRMINGHAM, England (FWN) - The Confederation of British Industry said it remains firm in its belief that the UK economy will avoid recession, even as the global market downturn deepens after the Sept 11 atrocities in the US. In a speech at the opening of the group's annual conference here, CBI president Iain Vallance told over 700 delegates that the UK "looks to be encouragingly resilient" even as consumer confidence has started to show signs of easing after the terror attacks in New York and Washington.