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UK GDP: Economy avoids recession despite weakest growth in a decade – business live UK GDP: Economy avoids recession despite weakest growth in a decade – business live
(32 minutes later)
Britain’s economy grew by 0.3% in the last quarter, after shrinking in Q2, but annual growth slowed to just 1%Britain’s economy grew by 0.3% in the last quarter, after shrinking in Q2, but annual growth slowed to just 1%
Over in New York, stocks have opened lower.
The Dow Jones industrial average has dropped by 139 points, or 0.5%, to 27,541. Trade war jitters are pulling Wall Street away from last Friday’s record closing high.
The broader S&P 500 index, and the tech-focused Nasdaq, are both down around 0.5%.
Investors are disappointed that Donald Trump denied agreeing to lift some tariffs on China last week, to help secure a Phase One trade deal.
Jingye has issued a statement, saying it plans to invest £1.2bn in British Steel over the next decade.
It also promised to make job offers to “as many employees as possible” across the group....
Newsflash: British Steel has been saved from closure, after a Chinese industrial giant agreed to buy the company’s assets.Newsflash: British Steel has been saved from closure, after a Chinese industrial giant agreed to buy the company’s assets.
Jingye Steel is lifting British Steel out of liquidation, a move that could save thousands of jobs at sites including its blast furnace in Scunthorpe.Jingye Steel is lifting British Steel out of liquidation, a move that could save thousands of jobs at sites including its blast furnace in Scunthorpe.
Here’s the official announcement from the Official Receiver:Here’s the official announcement from the Official Receiver:
This move, if approved, would end six months of uncertainty, since British Steel fell into liquidation in May.This move, if approved, would end six months of uncertainty, since British Steel fell into liquidation in May.
Britain’s growth was even slower once you adjust for population increases.Britain’s growth was even slower once you adjust for population increases.
This chart shows how growth on a per capita basis has been weak in recent quarter (data here).This chart shows how growth on a per capita basis has been weak in recent quarter (data here).
By my rough maths, GDP-per-capita only rose by 0.2% in the last quarter, slower than the headline increase of 0.3%.By my rough maths, GDP-per-capita only rose by 0.2% in the last quarter, slower than the headline increase of 0.3%.
Officially, GDP-per-capita overtook its pre-crisis levels in 2015.Officially, GDP-per-capita overtook its pre-crisis levels in 2015.
But... Alfie Sterling of the New Economics Foundation has calculated that living standards are still below 2008 levels, once you adjust for consumer price inflation [rather than using the ‘price deflator’ used by the ONS to remove the impact of rising prices on GDP].But... Alfie Sterling of the New Economics Foundation has calculated that living standards are still below 2008 levels, once you adjust for consumer price inflation [rather than using the ‘price deflator’ used by the ONS to remove the impact of rising prices on GDP].
More here.More here.
Sajid Javid is correct when he says that Britain is expected to grow faster than Japan, Italy and Germany in 2019 and 2020.Sajid Javid is correct when he says that Britain is expected to grow faster than Japan, Italy and Germany in 2019 and 2020.
But that’s hardly impressive. Italy has been stagnating for years, Germany will probably tumble into recession on Thursday, and Japan’s export-driven economy has been hurt by the US-China trade war.But that’s hardly impressive. Italy has been stagnating for years, Germany will probably tumble into recession on Thursday, and Japan’s export-driven economy has been hurt by the US-China trade war.
UK chancellor Sajid Javid has insisted that the UK economy is in good shape, despite annual growth slowing to a nine-year low.UK chancellor Sajid Javid has insisted that the UK economy is in good shape, despite annual growth slowing to a nine-year low.
But he’s also cited ongoing uncertainty over Britain’s departure from the EU.But he’s also cited ongoing uncertainty over Britain’s departure from the EU.
Javid told reporters:Javid told reporters:
The chancellor cited “record high unemployment” and real wages growth, adding:The chancellor cited “record high unemployment” and real wages growth, adding:
Q: But annual growth is now the weakest since 2010....Q: But annual growth is now the weakest since 2010....
Javid blames “global factors”, pointing out that the IMF expect Britain to grow faster than Germany, Italy and Japan over the next couple of years.Javid blames “global factors”, pointing out that the IMF expect Britain to grow faster than Germany, Italy and Japan over the next couple of years.
Here’s my colleague Phillip Inman on today’s growth figures:Here’s my colleague Phillip Inman on today’s growth figures:
Here’s his full story:Here’s his full story:
Nigel Farage’s decision not to run Brexit candidates in Conservative constituencies has also lifted the pound to a six-month high against the euro, at €1.168.Nigel Farage’s decision not to run Brexit candidates in Conservative constituencies has also lifted the pound to a six-month high against the euro, at €1.168.
Traders are calculating that a hung parliament is now less likely.Traders are calculating that a hung parliament is now less likely.
Neil Wilson of Markets.com explains:Neil Wilson of Markets.com explains:
Back in the City, the pound has just jumped to a one-week high.Back in the City, the pound has just jumped to a one-week high.
Sterling had already been lifted by the news that Britain had avoided recession.Sterling had already been lifted by the news that Britain had avoided recession.
But the rally has accelerated in the last few minutes, as Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage announced he won’t contest the 317 seats which the Conservative party won in 2017.But the rally has accelerated in the last few minutes, as Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage announced he won’t contest the 317 seats which the Conservative party won in 2017.
The pound is up a cent today, at $1.288.The pound is up a cent today, at $1.288.
Farage’s move could be a significant boost to Boris Johnson’s chances of winning a majority in next month’s general election.Farage’s move could be a significant boost to Boris Johnson’s chances of winning a majority in next month’s general election.
But, he’s not (yet anyway) pledged to withdraw from Tory target seats....But, he’s not (yet anyway) pledged to withdraw from Tory target seats....
Our Politics Live blog has all the details:Our Politics Live blog has all the details:
Worryingly, business investment has fizzled out in the last couple of year.sWorryingly, business investment has fizzled out in the last couple of year.s
The ONS reports that it was flat in the last quarter alone, but has shrunk in five of the last eight quarters:The ONS reports that it was flat in the last quarter alone, but has shrunk in five of the last eight quarters:
Britain’s economy is now paying the price of years of austerity, argues TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady:Britain’s economy is now paying the price of years of austerity, argues TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady:
Britain’s economy benefited from a boom in UK-based film and TV production in the last quarter, the ONS says.Britain’s economy benefited from a boom in UK-based film and TV production in the last quarter, the ONS says.
That helped the wider information and communication industry to grow by 0.8% in the last quarter, nearly three times faster than the wider economy.That helped the wider information and communication industry to grow by 0.8% in the last quarter, nearly three times faster than the wider economy.
Kallum Pickering of German bank Berenberg has crunched today’s GDP data, to show that UK growth has fallen steadily since the EU referendumKallum Pickering of German bank Berenberg has crunched today’s GDP data, to show that UK growth has fallen steadily since the EU referendum
He also sent these charts over:He also sent these charts over:
Today’s GDP report shows that private consumption, government spending and net trade all made a positive contribution to growth.Today’s GDP report shows that private consumption, government spending and net trade all made a positive contribution to growth.
But ‘gross fixed capital formation’ (a broad measure of investment) contracted in Q3, and manufacturing has also shrunk over the last six months.But ‘gross fixed capital formation’ (a broad measure of investment) contracted in Q3, and manufacturing has also shrunk over the last six months.
John McDonnell, Labour’s Shadow Chancellor, isn’t impressed that the UK economy has barely grown over the last six months:John McDonnell, Labour’s Shadow Chancellor, isn’t impressed that the UK economy has barely grown over the last six months:
This chart shows how Britain’s annual growth rate has slumped to a nine-year low (the blue line) despite growth picking up in the last quarter (the red bars).This chart shows how Britain’s annual growth rate has slumped to a nine-year low (the blue line) despite growth picking up in the last quarter (the red bars).