The economy is finally set to grow past its pre-recession level in the second half of this year, according to a new report.
The latest Business Trends report by business adviser BDO shows the predicted growth is fuelled by markedly strong optimism and hiring intentions across all sectors of the economy, with manufacturers in particular feeling very positive about the future.
The positive outlook is supported by BDO鈥檚 Output Index, which has risen to 102.7 in February from 102.3 in January, to stand at its highest level since April 2010. The Output Index is a resilient indicator of growth with figures predicting continually high business performance for the coming months.
In particular, BDO鈥檚 Output manufacturing sector sub-index, often a strong indicator of economic health, has charged ahead by rising to 112.0 in February, compared to 111.3 last month. This is despite recent currency fluctuations working against manufacturers, so the unrelenting growth identified by the manufacturing sub-index underlines the strength of the sector鈥檚 recovery.
Inflationary pressures on 海角视频 businesses also continued to ease in February: the BDO Inflation Index dropped from 97.9 in January to 97.1, as falling real wages helped services firms control costs and falling input prices, driven by weak global demand, helped manufacturers.
The positive economic picture on the ground is supported by encouraging expectations further ahead, as BDO鈥檚 Optimism Index, which predicts business performance in two quarters鈥 time, remained stable. Confidence among businesses dropped slightly in February to 103.3 from 103.8 on the index last month, but remains comfortably above the 100 level which indicates the economy鈥檚 long-term growth trend.
Mark Anslow, partner and head of BDO in Birmingham, said: 鈥淥n its current trajectory, we expect economic output to surpass the level last reached before the onset of the financial crisis by July this year, which will be a great relief to the Chancellor as we near the Budget. What鈥檚 more, the recovery has well and truly taken hold across all sectors, with manufacturing in particular driving strong job creation.
鈥淗owever, as the remaining spare capacity in the economy is spent, the spectre of a skills shortage is likely to rear its head again, which could become a new drag on growth. There is increasing evidence that immigrants make a disproportionately positive contribution to our economy.聽 It is vital that our political class takes notice of this evidence and starts to embrace immigration as a force for good in generating economic success.鈥
