Tender prices have continued to fall in the face of crumbling workload and a depressed outlook for the years ahead. Analysis of tenders received in the second quarter of 2009 shows that average prices fell by 1.5% and are now 10% lower than a year ago. This average figure hides a considerable variation between clients, some of whom have been offered price cuts greater than 10%. In other cases, for instance where two-stage tendering is still employed, the decline may be less.rnThere have been suggestions that the worst of the recession may be over. There have even been forecasts that the UK economy may be growing again. This optimism was dampened when the Office for National Statistics (ONS) revised its first quarter estimate from -1.9% to -2.4%.
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