Quarterly Economic Survey Q2 2021: Marked Improvement in Business Conditions but Inflation Concerns Hit Record Highs

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Significantly more firms reporting improvements in key indicators, such as domestic sales and business confidence with some measures returning to pre-pandemic levels  However, these rises come from the lowest base in the 31-year history of the QES, and business conditions remain fragile  The balance of manufacturers expecting to increase their prices hits the highest level in the history of the QES dataset, while the proportion of businesses citing inflation as a…

BCC reacts to latest Labour Market Figures

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Commenting on ONS Labour Market statistics for May 2021 published today, BCC Head of Economics, Suren Thiru, said:  “The decline in the unemployment rate and the rise in payroll employment is further confirmation that the UK jobs market is now more resilient to the ongoing restrictions.  “Continued government support and the easing of restrictions as the UK moved to step two of the government’s roadmap helped drive higher payroll employment in April.   “The rise…

BCC reacts to latest GDP figures 

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Commenting on GDP figures for Q1 2021, published today by the ONS, Suren Thiru, Head of Economics at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said:   “While the UK economy contracted in the first quarter, the downbeat headline figure masks a renewed momentum through the quarter from January’s drop in output to an exceptionally strong March outturn as lockdown measures started to…

BCC & Barclays LifeSkills release report revealing businesses’ thoughts on futureproofing for a post-pandemic world

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The joint report:  Finds that new ways of working introduced during the pandemic offer opportunities for both employers and staff  Highlights how supporting employees’ mental wellbeing and digital skills will become increasingly important  Shows that equipping school-leavers with key people skills to deal with new working arrangements will be vital  The British Chambers of Commerce and Barclays LifeSkills have today…

Statement by Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič following his meeting with Lord David Frost

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Brussels, 16 April 2021 Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič, EU Co-Chair of the Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee,held an informal meeting yesterday evening in Brussels with Lord David Frost. The meeting took place in a constructive, solution-driven atmosphere. It forms part of the EU’s overall intense efforts to find joint solutions to ensure that the Protocol on Ireland /…