CBI survey signals consumer upturn
While the headline figures from the CBI's latest survey make excellent reading, with 44% of the 143 companies who responded confirming sales grew in the first half of April, there is more to the report than meets the eye. Immediately after the figures were announced it was also revealed that the timing of Easter this year may well have given early April sales a significant boost and the figures could be misleading.
Whether the figures are misleading or not, it is interesting to see the constant drip feed of more positive reports regarding the UK economy. This report by the CBI surprised many analysts who expected sales to have been down over the year only to be surprised by the positive nature of the data. However, as ever it will take more than one set of figures to signal the end of the UK recession and if subsequent reports are in any way negative the impact of today's report will quickly evaporate.
There was also the fact that many areas of the UK economy will recover at different times and different speeds which will ensure a flow of both positive and negative data in the weeks and months ahead. This will be no V shaped recovery and there is no quick fix!
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