UNITED KINGDOM

摘要

With revised national accounts data showing that the economy stagnated in Q2, our panel has downgraded a number of forecasts this month. Both consumption and investment shrank in Q2, by 0.1% (q-o-q) and 5.3% respectively. This marks the second consecutive quarterly contraction in investment, led by decreased construction activity. Plunging business confidence also depressed capital spending, with corporate profits squeezed by weakening demand (both domestic and external) and rising costs. Forecasts for the variable have seen particularly marked downgrades.