No detox yet in sight as UK businesses brace for the mother of all hangovers

摘要

The 16-year-long party for the UK economy has well and truly ended and the hangover is likely to be a particularly unpleasant one. Rarely in recent times have so many statistics, reports and surveys been so disappointing or gloomy at the same time. Last autumn's credit crunch has brought with it a discouraging combination of slowing growth and rising inflation, a weakening exchange rate and deteriorating confidence. The virtuous circles that we have been used to for so long have been replaced with vicious circles. Only the Chancellor now seems to believe that the UK economy will post reasonable growth this year and next. The implication for the printing industry is clear: it's going to get tougher.