Number of growing sectors hits 15 months high

More parts of the economy grew in May than at any time in the last 15 months according to the latest Lloyds Bank UK Sector Tracker.  While the overall rate of output growth across the economy slowed marginally in May (53.0 vs. 54.1 in April), 11 out of the 14 UK sectors monitored by the…

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GDP growth hits zero – industry reaction

Latest economic ONS data has shown that growth was flat, with GDP unchanged between March and April. GDP showed no month-on-month growth following a 0.4 per cent rise in March The data reflects modest growth in April, offset by weakness in both Production and Construction. Services output rose 0.2% month-on-month whilst Construction output fell 1.4…

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UK’s economic growth flattered by a booming population

The UK’s middle-of-the-pack record on economic growth since 2010 has been flattered by the population growing by six million people. But Britain will need to turnaround its dire productivity record and leverage its services strengths if it wants raise growth and boost living standards in the 2020s, according to new research By the Resolution Foundation.…

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Small business confidence rise could signal end of recession

Small business confidence made a welcome return to positive territory for the first time in two years, the first evidence that the small business community has now come out of the late 2023 recession, according to FSB’s Small Business Index (SBI) for Q1 2024.  The headline confidence reading jumped up over 20 points to reach…

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Interest rate cut delays predicted to subdue growth

The British economy is expected to remain subdued this year due to the Bank of England delaying interest rate cuts in the face of stubborn inflation according to a repott by the EY Item Club. The report now expects GDP growth of 2% in 2025, up from 1.8% in January’s Winter Forecast. However, the growth forecast…

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GDP rose 0.1% in February – business industry reaction

Latest Office for National Statistics (ONS) has shown that Gross Domestic Product (GDP) rose 0.1% in February providing another sign of a return to sluggish economic growth this year. Output from the production industry led the economy’s growth, rising by 1.1%, compared to a fall of 0.3% in January. The figures were in line with…

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Business confidence rises

Latest data from the Institute of Directors (IoD) shows that business confidence in the UK economy took a significant leap forward in March. Bouncing back from the unexpectedly low confidence levels recorded in February, the key indicators suggest business leaders are returning to the more optimistic positions that they held in January. The IoD Directors’…

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Economy grows by 0.2% – industry reaction

Latest figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) have shown that GDP rose by 0.2% in January following a fall in output during the previous month.. The UK’s economy grew in January, boosted by stronger sales in shops and online and more construction activity. January’s growth figure raises expectations of the economy expanding…

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Three quarters of small business owners worried about economic volatility

New data from Novuna Business Finance has revealed that three quarters (75%) of small business owners are experiencing sleepless nights, with market volatility being their top concern for the second consecutive year. With 35% expressing worry about this in Q1 2024, the figure has slightly decreased from Q1’s 2022’s peak, amidst market turmoil following the…

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UK economy likely experienced a mild recession last year

The Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) predicts that the UK economy likely experienced a mild recession in the second half of last year. However, the think-tank believes that the country is now on the path to recovery, thanks to higher disposable household income and increased spending. CEBR says the UK economy has battled…

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Two in five small firms saw revenues fall over Q4 of 2023

Small business confidence lost ground in the final three months of 2023, reversing gains made earlier in the year, according to the Federation of Small Business (FSB)’s latest quarterly Small Business Index (SBI) with two in five small firms seeing revenues fall over Quarter 4 (Q4). The headline confidence reading was -15.0 points in Q4,…

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Private sector activity endures a year of decline

The private sector activity fell slightly in the three months to December (weighted balance of -8%, from -11% in the three months to November), according to the CBI’s latest Growth Indicator. The latest decline extends a stretch of one-and-a-half years without growth, a trend which firms expect to continue in the new year (-6%). Services…

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Economic data ends year on a high

21st December 2023 Commercial Credit Management | #economy

A year of poor economic data ended on a high as CPI inflation fell by more than markets expected to 3.9 per cent in November – its lowest level since September 2021. But while inflation should continue to fall next year, there are likely to be bumps in the road, reminding us all that cost-of-living…

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