This publication is a summary of monthly reports compiled by the Bank of England’s Agents following discussions with contacts in the period between late March 2015 and late April 2015.
- Consumer services and retail sales turnover had risen moderately.
- Housing market activity remained below that of a year earlier, with some contacts reporting a slowing in the run-up to the General Election.
- Investment intentions for the next twelve months were consistent with moderate growth overall.
- Business services turnover growth had remained robust and broadly based.
- Manufacturing output growth, both for the domestic market and for export, had edged lower.
- Construction output growth had continued to ease on a year earlier, but remained fairly robust overall.
- Corporate credit availability had improved further.
- Employment intentions had edged higher and were consistent with modest headcount growth overall.
- Recruitment difficulties had changed little, at a level somewhat above normal.
- Capacity utilisation had remained at broadly normal levels in manufacturing, but slightly above normal for services.
- Growth in total labour costs per employee had been steady.
- Materials costs and imported finished goods prices had remained lower than a year earlier.
- Output prices had fallen on a year earlier for manufacturers, although they had risen moderately for business services firms.
- Profitability growth had edged higher for services, but had fallen for manufacturers.
- Consumer price inflation had remained negative for goods. Retail service prices had continued to increase modestly.
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Agents' scores