Meanwhile...(courtesy of FT.com):
The growth of the UK economy is likely to be weaker than forecast in the second quarter of the year after industrial production, construction output and net trade fell more than expected in May. The figures from the Office for National Statistics are a blow to hopes that higher exports and manufacturing would offset a potential slowdown in consumer spending. The pound fell 0.67 per cent against the dollar to $1.2883 in afternoon trading. The data is likely to give pause to the Bank of England’s monetary policy committee as it considers whether to raise interest rates.
“This morning’s flurry of UK economic releases added a further dose of pessimism to our assessment of the UK economy’s performance through the second quarter,” said Victoria Clarke, an economist at Investec bank.“ Our forecast of a modest pick-up in (GDP) growth in quarter two, to 0.3 per cent, from 0.2 per cent in quarter one, looks to be on less solid ground now,” Ms Clarke said.
The growth of the UK economy is likely to be weaker than forecast in the second quarter of the year after industrial production, construction output and net trade fell more than expected in May. The figures from the Office for National Statistics are a blow to hopes that higher exports and manufacturing would offset a potential slowdown in consumer spending. The pound fell 0.67 per cent against the dollar to $1.2883 in afternoon trading. The data is likely to give pause to the Bank of England’s monetary policy committee as it considers whether to raise interest rates.
“This morning’s flurry of UK economic releases added a further dose of pessimism to our assessment of the UK economy’s performance through the second quarter,” said Victoria Clarke, an economist at Investec bank.“ Our forecast of a modest pick-up in (GDP) growth in quarter two, to 0.3 per cent, from 0.2 per cent in quarter one, looks to be on less solid ground now,” Ms Clarke said.