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| IMF upgrades UK economic growth forecasts as global economy expands | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The International Monetary Fund is widely expected to raise its outlook for the UK this week, nudging up the country's growth forecasts by more than for any other major economy. | The International Monetary Fund is widely expected to raise its outlook for the UK this week, nudging up the country's growth forecasts by more than for any other major economy. |
| The Washington-based fund is due to unveil an update on Tuesday to its World Economic Outlook from last October. Back then it forecast UK national output would rise 1.9% in 2014. Now it is expected to predict growth of 2.4%, according to a Sky News report. | The Washington-based fund is due to unveil an update on Tuesday to its World Economic Outlook from last October. Back then it forecast UK national output would rise 1.9% in 2014. Now it is expected to predict growth of 2.4%, according to a Sky News report. |
| The IMF is also expected to upgrade its outlook for the global economy, which in October it predicted as expanding by 3.6% this year. That would reflect the cautiously optimistic tone in a New Year's speech from its managing director, Christine Lagarde, last week. | The IMF is also expected to upgrade its outlook for the global economy, which in October it predicted as expanding by 3.6% this year. That would reflect the cautiously optimistic tone in a New Year's speech from its managing director, Christine Lagarde, last week. |
| "This crisis still lingers. Yet, optimism is in the air: the deep freeze is behind, and the horizon is brighter. My great hope is that 2014 will prove momentous … the year in which the seven weak years, economically speaking, slide into seven strong years," she said. | |
| If confirmed, the substantial upgrade to the UK will be a welcome boost to Chancellor George Osborne and his much repeated assertion that the coalition's "economic plan is working". | |
| But in the past the IMF has echoed other economists, including experts at the UK's own Office for Budget Responsibility, that the UK remains over-dependent on consumer spending to grow. | But in the past the IMF has echoed other economists, including experts at the UK's own Office for Budget Responsibility, that the UK remains over-dependent on consumer spending to grow. |
| The latest crop of official data underscored those concerns, with weaker outturns for construction and manufacturing and a jump in Christmas retail sales. | The latest crop of official data underscored those concerns, with weaker outturns for construction and manufacturing and a jump in Christmas retail sales. |
| Economists generally feel, however, that overall growth will pick up this year and the IMF is just the latest of a string of forecasters to raise the UK's outlook. | |
| The business group CBI has pencilled in 2014 growth of 2.4%, the British Chambers of Commerce expects 2.7% and the OBR forecasts 2.4%. | The business group CBI has pencilled in 2014 growth of 2.4%, the British Chambers of Commerce expects 2.7% and the OBR forecasts 2.4%. |
| A report from EY Item Club on Monday forecast UK economic growth would pick up to 2.7% this year from 1.9% in 2013. It too warned the recovery was not built on solid foundations, however, due largely to the pressure on household incomes. | A report from EY Item Club on Monday forecast UK economic growth would pick up to 2.7% this year from 1.9% in 2013. It too warned the recovery was not built on solid foundations, however, due largely to the pressure on household incomes. |
| Peter Spencer, chief economic advisor to the EY ITEM Club comments: "It is hard to find another episode in time where employment has been rising and real wages falling for any significant period of time. The weakness of real earnings is proving to be the government's Achilles heel and could prove to be the weak spot in the recovery. | Peter Spencer, chief economic advisor to the EY ITEM Club comments: "It is hard to find another episode in time where employment has been rising and real wages falling for any significant period of time. The weakness of real earnings is proving to be the government's Achilles heel and could prove to be the weak spot in the recovery. |
| "Consumers have reduced the amount they save to fund their spending sprees. But they cannot continue to drive growth for much longer without an accompanying recovery in real wages or a rise in their debt to income ratio." | "Consumers have reduced the amount they save to fund their spending sprees. But they cannot continue to drive growth for much longer without an accompanying recovery in real wages or a rise in their debt to income ratio." |
| There have also been warnings that the recovery is not being felt throughout the UK, and is instead largely benefiting London and the south-east. | There have also been warnings that the recovery is not being felt throughout the UK, and is instead largely benefiting London and the south-east. |
| A study by the TUC trade unions group on Monday said the recent recovery in jobs had failed to reach the north-east, the north-west, Wales and the south-west, leaving them in the same situation or worse at providing jobs than they were 20 years ago. | A study by the TUC trade unions group on Monday said the recent recovery in jobs had failed to reach the north-east, the north-west, Wales and the south-west, leaving them in the same situation or worse at providing jobs than they were 20 years ago. |
| The US-based IMF could not be immediately reached for comment. | The US-based IMF could not be immediately reached for comment. |