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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Slow, fragile recovery predicted | Slow, fragile recovery predicted |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| The UK economy is likely to stage a recovery next spring, a forecast by a leading business group has said. | |
| The employers' group, the CBI, has predicted that there will be economic growth in spring next year but said any recovery would be "slow and fragile". | The employers' group, the CBI, has predicted that there will be economic growth in spring next year but said any recovery would be "slow and fragile". |
| It predicted the economy would shrink 3.9% this year but grow 0.2% in the second quarter of 2010. | It predicted the economy would shrink 3.9% this year but grow 0.2% in the second quarter of 2010. |
| Separately, a report from the Ernst & Young Item Club has predicted that the economy will shrink by 3.5% this year. | Separately, a report from the Ernst & Young Item Club has predicted that the economy will shrink by 3.5% this year. |
| It forecast the economy would shrink by 0.1% in the whole of 2010. | It forecast the economy would shrink by 0.1% in the whole of 2010. |
| Return to growth? | Return to growth? |
| The CBI also said that the first quarter of this year had been "tougher than expected", leading it to revise its outlook. | The CBI also said that the first quarter of this year had been "tougher than expected", leading it to revise its outlook. |
| Its prediction of a 3.9% contraction in the economy this year is significantly worse than the 3.3% it predicted in February. | Its prediction of a 3.9% contraction in the economy this year is significantly worse than the 3.3% it predicted in February. |
| "There are a few tentative signs that the steepest phase of the recession is now behind us, and that the banking packages, aggressive monetary policy and fiscal support will steady the pace of decline from here on," said Richard Lambert, director general of the CBI. | "There are a few tentative signs that the steepest phase of the recession is now behind us, and that the banking packages, aggressive monetary policy and fiscal support will steady the pace of decline from here on," said Richard Lambert, director general of the CBI. |
| Budget forecasts | Budget forecasts |
| In Wednesday's Budget, Chancellor Alistair Darling is expected to predict economic contraction of about 3% of GDP this year - up from his earlier forecast in November of between 0.75% to 1.25%. | In Wednesday's Budget, Chancellor Alistair Darling is expected to predict economic contraction of about 3% of GDP this year - up from his earlier forecast in November of between 0.75% to 1.25%. |
| We face another 12 to 18 months of serious grief. Around 900,000 jobs will be lost this year and half a million next Peter Spencer, Item Club Firms urge minimum wage freeze | We face another 12 to 18 months of serious grief. Around 900,000 jobs will be lost this year and half a million next Peter Spencer, Item Club Firms urge minimum wage freeze |
| The Item Club believes that the revival of the bond market in January has enabled the UK's strongest companies to gain access to credit. | The Item Club believes that the revival of the bond market in January has enabled the UK's strongest companies to gain access to credit. |
| "This recession is unusual in terms of the degree of monetary and financial stimulus that has been applied," said Peter Spencer, chief economic adviser to the Item Club. | "This recession is unusual in terms of the degree of monetary and financial stimulus that has been applied," said Peter Spencer, chief economic adviser to the Item Club. |
| "That is why I believe the hopeful signs seen in recent weeks mark a turning point rather than the false dawn that appeared so cruelly in 1931." | "That is why I believe the hopeful signs seen in recent weeks mark a turning point rather than the false dawn that appeared so cruelly in 1931." |
| The Item Club's forecast was also encouraged by improved sentiment emerging in business surveys in the US, China and the UK, it said. | The Item Club's forecast was also encouraged by improved sentiment emerging in business surveys in the US, China and the UK, it said. |
| However, it also said that the backdrop to the Budget is "bleak" and warned that the chancellor has "limited options" in his spending plans. | However, it also said that the backdrop to the Budget is "bleak" and warned that the chancellor has "limited options" in his spending plans. |
| Job losses | Job losses |
| Mr Spencer warned that the UK was not out of the woods yet. | Mr Spencer warned that the UK was not out of the woods yet. |
| "We face another 12 to 18 months of serious grief. Around 900,000 jobs will be lost this year and half a million next," he said. | "We face another 12 to 18 months of serious grief. Around 900,000 jobs will be lost this year and half a million next," he said. |
| He also predicted a gloomy next 12 months for the housing market and the high street. | He also predicted a gloomy next 12 months for the housing market and the high street. |
| World trade is expected to decline by 9% in 2009, he added. | World trade is expected to decline by 9% in 2009, he added. |
| Meanwhile, the British Chambers of Commerce has called for the chancellor to provide more support for private industry in the Budget. | Meanwhile, the British Chambers of Commerce has called for the chancellor to provide more support for private industry in the Budget. |
| The business group wants a freeze on the minimum wage and a cut in small businesses' corporation tax. | The business group wants a freeze on the minimum wage and a cut in small businesses' corporation tax. |
| Do you agree with the findings of these reports? Is the British economy beginning the slow path to recovery? What would you like to see in Budget 2009? Send us your comments using the form below. | Do you agree with the findings of these reports? Is the British economy beginning the slow path to recovery? What would you like to see in Budget 2009? Send us your comments using the form below. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |