As recently as two days ago, the BoE was predicting a 0.1% growth in the GDP. However, today a policymaker for the Bank of England is now saying figures ‘could’ show a slight decline in growth. This would place the UK back into a recession, the first double-dip recession since 1975 and it would not be good news for those already suffering from budget cuts imposed by the austerity measures government adheres to.
This could be devastating news for the nation as it finally appeared as though manufacturing was back on track and services were picking up as well. Unfortunately, the growing debt crisis in the eurozone is wreaking havoc not only in the UK but around the globe as well, evidenced by yesterday’s markets.
Although the UK is not part of the single currency, they have been part of the bail out with quantitative easing which means that economic problems on the continent will surely affect Britain. As Holland’s president resigned and Nicolas Sarkozy is probably on the way out, Angela Merkel is continuing her drive for austerity in the EU.
Tomorrow’s data will show if austerity is working in the UK and if it is then Ms Merkel has a valid point. If not, if the UK is plunged into a double-dip recession, this does not bode well for Merkel or Sarkozy who is battling it out in a second round election for his job. No one knows what tomorrow will bring, hope or gloom, but at the moment it is not looking good.
With a turnaround in just 2 days in their predictions, the BoE has everyone waiting with baited breath to see what shape the UK economy is in. It can only be hoped that a recession is avoided as austerity is already crippling many social programmes and killing jobs by the tens of thousands.
