Is the UK starting a recession?

[Beach Hut]

I suspect Jessops have also struggled to keep prices down as all their goods would be available on the internet a lot cheaper.

 

[Gully]

Strangely I said the very same thing to someone at work this week, I really think that we are in danger of slipping into a recession if interest rates go up much further, don't think it will be as bad as the early 90's but it might not take much to send it that way.

Interest rates have been raised to try and curb the credit boom, problem is that this also affects those whose only real credit item is the mortgage on their home. Some people will still spend, spend, spend regardless, however most will cut their cloth accordingly...less disposable income means less money to spend on non-essential items, not good news for the high street.

 

[NMH]

I'm not so sure that a company that undercuts HEAVILY the established high-street music shops, is a sign of recession when it goes under.

 

[looney]

A recession is defined a downturn in a country's GDP for two successive financial quarters.

As has been trumpted ad infinitum by Gordon Brown, the UK has had something like 54 successive quarters of growth.

Definition is accurate but is not quite, weve had one or two static or neg quarters but its close enough.

The thing is a lot of it has been job free growth imo.

 

[British Bulldog]

There are times i'm glad I provide a service rather than relying on selling a product.

 

[smudge]

I hope so, I get paid in f***ing dollars.

 

[beorhthelm]

I bought a camera from jessops last autumn. they where under the illusion that i would spend £65 on an memory card when i could get the same online for at least 50% less, or even go into dixons and get it for under £50. sales assistant was very condesending when i said i didnt need any additional memory, imply that i must have some for the camera to work, not acknowledging that the camera cam with 64MB which is enough to do more shots than your regular compact camera would have.

high street shops rely on two things, convienence and service. as more people get t'internet they will have to improve the service or die. Jessops and HMV are failing as they provide neither.

 

[¡Cereal Killer!]

Yep, Fopp have gone under, despite being profitable.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6252300.stm

Their website is still woring though by the looks of things.

Bit of a shame really though, cheap cd's and dvd's, and quite a snazzy looking store.

 

[desprateseagull]

I hope so, I get paid in f***ing dollars.

why can i get some of these??

 

[Mellor 3 Ward 4]

highly unlikely in my opinion. there will be something of a slowdown with interest rates up again, but the consumer markets and housing markets continue to do very well.

with places like jessops, this is simply the overdue reaction to the internet economy, and it will continue at a pace

Is the right answer IMO

 

[Pigsy]

The public sector is viewed by Senior Managers as having been in recession for a year or two, with more lean years ahead.