Agents' Summary of Business Conditions - March 2008

We regularly publish a summary of reports compiled by our twelve regional Agents following discussions with at least 700 businesses across the UK every reporting period.
Published on 17 March 2008
  • Consumption growth eased, driven by slower growth in the value of retail spending.
  • The easing in demand for housing continued, and house price inflation fell further.
  • Investment intentions fell in both the services and manufacturing sectors. Tighter credit conditions continued to weigh on investment intentions, mainly through their effect on uncertainty about demand.
  • Demand for exports remained robust, as did forward orders.
  • Growth in manufacturing edged down, while that in construction and service sector output slowed further.
  • Labour demand softened and recruitment difficulties became less pronounced.
  • Capacity pressures lessened and were expected to ease further.
  • There was little change in pay settlements and growth in total labour costs remained well contained.
  • Annual input price inflation rose sharply and annual output price inflation increased as manufacturers sought to restore margins. (See box on the Agents’ cost pass-through survey.)
  • Annual consumer price inflation increased, driven by increases in the prices of both goods and services.

 

PDFAgents' summary of business conditions - March 2008

Other Agents' Summary of Business Conditions

This page was last updated 31 January 2023