GDP figures highlight need to supplement Budget measures
24/04/09 | 10:15
Commenting on the preliminary GDP figures for Q1 2009, published today by the ONS, Chief Economist at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), David Kern, said:
“This decline is much worse than expected and shows that the downturn is more severe than most analysts thought. The fall in activity across all sectors indicates that the measures taken to fight the recession so far have not been enough.
“Support announced in the Budget will have to be supplemented by more aggressive steps to prevent the loss of jobs, and the Bank of England will have to apply quantitative easing more forcefully.
“With RPI inflation in negative territory, fears of inflation must be set aside until the deepening recession is curbed.”
Ends
Media Contact:
Sam Turvey
Tel: 020 7654 5813
Email: s.turvey@britishchambers.org.uk
Notes to Editors:
The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) is the National Voice of Local Business.
The BCC sits at the heart of a powerful nationwide network of Accredited Chambers of Commerce serving business across the UK, which employ over five million people.