Trade deficit statistics have been even more volatile than usual recently, but the UK’s trade balance looks like it has been improving slowly.
Chart of the Week: Week 22, 2014: UK GDP Growth by Sector
When the second estimate of Q1 GDP was released at the end of last week, the preliminary growth rate of 0.8% remained unchanged.
Chart of the Week: Week 41, 2013: Profitability of UK Companies
There has been quite a contrast in profitability in the services and manufacturing sectors recently, with the services sector at a four year high, while the manufacturing sector is at a ten year low.