Fears that the UK is heading for a triple-dip recession appear to have been confirmed by worse-than-expected January manufacturing data, analysts have suggested.
UK manufacturing output fell 1.5% in January, far worse than had been expected, wiping out a 0.9% rise in December and raising fresh concerns over the health of the UK economy. The data prompted the pound to shed a further half cent against the dollar, dropping to a fresh two-and-a-half-year low of $1.4832. The UK economy contracted 0.3% in Q4 2012, pending a final estimate from the Office for National Statistics later this month, and a negative reading for Q1 2013 is now odds-on, according to analysts. Alan Clarke, economist at Scotiabank, said the release is "the penultimate nail...
To continue reading this article...
Join Professional Adviser for free
- Unlimited access to real-time news, industry insights and market intelligence
- Stay ahead of the curve with spotlights on emerging trends and technologies
- Receive breaking news stories straight to your inbox in the daily newsletters
- Make smart business decisions with the latest developments in regulation, investing retirement and protection
- Members-only access to the editor’s weekly Friday commentary
- Be the first to hear about our events and awards programmes