UK manufacturing slows in November
The Purchasing Managers Index (PMI), a prominent indicator of the manufacturing industry, fell from 53.4 in October to 51.8 in November amid signs of a slowdown in the UK manufacturing sector. When you add this together with the slowdown in the services sector, expected slowdown in the property sector and a lack of overall liquidity in the money markets the signs are there for a further slowdown in the UK in 2010.
It appears that the doomsday scenario of a short rally towards the end of 2009 and then a further fall in 2010 could well be coming true. However, if you look at the recent political indicators the Labour Party has closed the gap on the Conservative Party with a new-found confidence emerging amongst UK votes and UK consumers. Whether this sudden surge in popularity for the Labour Party, on the back of what is seen as a more stable economy, continues towards the end of 2009 and into 2010 is a very pertinent question.
Many people believe that the Labour Party has an opportunity to retain control of parliament at the next election if it is able to at least "give the impression" that the UK economy has recovered and has turned the corner.
Share this..
Related stories
The Autumn Statement- what does it mean for me?
03/12/2014 Today, at 12:30, Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne delivered his Autumn Statement. He presented us with the growth and borrowing forecasts, as well as new policies and measures that will be felt throughout the country. Here at financialadvice.co.uk we live tweeted the whole thing, and below we have covered some of the main points, and how they may affect you and your family...
Read MoreWhen will unemployment in the UK start to fall?
A report in the financial press today suggests that UK unemployment will peak at 2.8 million in 2010 but there is no suggestion as to when we can expect a significant fall in unemployment. While the fact that unemployment appears unlikely to reach the 3 million barrier has been well received there is still confusion and debate as to how quickly we can expect the unemployment number to come down on...
Read MoreThe FSA issues new corporate governance guidelines
The FSA has today issued a raft of new guidelines with regards to the financial services industry and remuneration packages which have come under severe criticism of late. In what many see as purely a public relations stunt, and something which will never actually reach the market, the FSA is suggesting increasing the fixed salary component of future remuneration packages and linking bonuses to pr...
Read MoreHMRC tax avoidance crackdown increases payments by 60%
A report produced by law firm Pinsent Masons has revealed that a crackdown on tax avoidance from the “mass affluent” has seen the HMRC net an increase in tax payments of 60% from that demographic over the last 12 months. The data that formed the basis of the report was released by HMRC, and highlights the significant increase in tax payments from those considered to be mass affluent; meani...
Read MoreTalk of windfall tax on UK banking bonuses
With many US and UK banks set to release hundreds of millions of dollars for employee bonus schemes, it looks as though both US and UK regulators could step in and consider a windfall tax on excessive bonus payments. The UK government has for one been very proactive in this particular field and the word in the city is that the Treasury is already looking at the situation to see what can be done. I...
Read More