Yet more contradictory news on the UK economy
Monitoring and forecasting the direction of the UK economy has become an art in itself over the last few months with news that advertising budgets increased marginally by 0.5% in the third quarter of 2010. This compares with a decline of 4.6% in the previous quarter and would on the surface appear to indicate that the UK economy has upturned. However, there are short to medium term concerns about the UK economic situation.
It seems that despite a 0.5% increase in marketing budgets in the third quarter, we are likely to see market spend reigned in during the final quarter of 2010. There are already signs that some companies are reluctant to commit significant funds at this moment in time which does not bode well for the TV companies and mass media which depend upon advertising revenue. It would also seem to suggest that consumer spending will tail off in the short to medium term, something which will squeeze corporate profit margins, squeeze costs and ultimately cost jobs in the retail and advertising sectors.
It is very difficult to find definitive confidence in the UK economy today although there are some potential green shoots of recovery but at this moment in time they are buried well beneath the surface.
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