UK Economics Chart Pack Consumers have a spring in their step The recovery in consumer spending has shown no signs of slowing this year, with indicators suggesting that both retail and consumer services spending have grown strongly. Admittedly, households have... 27th March 2014 · 1 min read
UK Economics Chart Pack Real pay squeeze continuing to ease The squeeze on real earnings is continuing to ease, increasing the chances that 2014 is the first year that real pay rises since the financial crisis. Granted, the headline (three month average of the... 5th March 2014 · 1 min read
UK Economics Chart Pack Strong spending recovery still underway Consumer spending still looks set to grow strongly this year. Real incomes should be boosted by a gradual pick-up in pay growth, falling inflation and further increases in employment. And with the... 21st February 2014 · 1 min read
UK Economics Chart Pack Outlook for 2014 still bright The economic recovery appears to have remained strong at the start of 2014. Although the composite CIPS/Markit activity index weakened again in January, it still points on the basis of past form to... 5th February 2014 · 1 min read
UK Economics Chart Pack 2013 ends on a reasonably positive note 2013 ended with a mixed picture for the consumer sector, with surprisingly strong official data set against some softness in the surveys and in the anecdotal evidence from the high street. Nonetheless... 17th January 2014 · 1 min read
UK Economics Chart Pack Falling unemployment unlikely to prompt rate hike While unemployment is falling swiftly towards the 7% threshold above which the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has pledged to keep official interest rates on hold, it remains unlikely that rates will... 7th January 2014 · 1 min read
UK Economics Chart Pack Consumers continue to spend cautiously Data for the early part of December suggest that consumers are in a reasonably positive mood in the run-up to Christmas. And there is still the potential for retailers to enjoy a further pick-up in... 19th December 2013 · 1 min read
UK Economics Chart Pack Inflation easing despite stronger recovery CPI inflation fell sharply from 2.7% to 2.2% in October and it looks likely to fall below the 2% target soon. Past falls in global agricultural commodity prices suggest that food price inflation will... 4th December 2013 · 1 min read
UK Economics Chart Pack Recovery continues, but no consumer boom Data for the early part of Q4 suggests that the consumer recovery may be stumbling slightly. But the picture should improve in the run-up to Christmas. October’s sharp drop in inflation, combined with... 14th November 2013 · 1 min read
UK Economics Chart Pack Recovery strengthens and broadens The economic recovery still seems to be gathering speed. The 0.8% quarterly rise in GDP in the third quarter was the strongest expansion seen since Q2 2010. And whereas a year or so ago, the recovery... 5th November 2013 · 1 min read
UK Economics Chart Pack Income squeeze not stopping people from spending The consumer recovery remains on track. Consumer confidence is still rising and the housing market will receive a fillip from the second stage of the Help to Buy Scheme. Admittedly, it will be a while... 18th October 2013 · 1 min read
UK Economics Chart Pack Confidence in the recovery strengthens The economic recovery is becoming more entrenched, with GDP confirmed as having grown by 0.7% in Q2 and expansion evident across all three main sectors of the economy. Meanwhile, sentiment has risen... 3rd October 2013 · 1 min read
UK Economics Chart Pack Consumer recovery still looking good While the summer’s prolonged hot spell may have distorted sales patterns, the underlying trend in consumer spending still looks quite positive. 20th September 2013 · 1 min read
UK Economics Chart Pack Recovery quickens as productivity rebounds The run of positive economic news has continued, with quarterly GDP growth in Q2 revised up to 0.7% and August’s CIPS/Markit PMIs pointing to even stronger growth in Q3. The divergence between output... 4th September 2013 · 1 min read
UK Economics Chart Pack Feel-good factor buoys spending The recovery in consumer spending seems to be becoming more entrenched. While better weather has helped support sales, the underlying picture has also strengthened. Both retail sales and non-retail... 16th August 2013 · 1 min read
UK Economics Chart Pack Recovery still developing momentum (Aug) The run of generally good economic news continues. In view of the economy’s recent performance, we have raised our forecast for GDP growth this year from 0.2% to 0.8% (although we have left our... 5th August 2013 · 1 min read
