EEF NW comment on GDP data

Darrell Matthews

Commenting on today’s GDP data, Darrell Matthews, North West Region Director for EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation, said: “While household spending was again the main driver of activity there was an encouraging uptick in business investment and a small positive contribution from net exports.

"Looking forward, the near-term outlook remains positive given the positive opening months of 2014 and, with the risks to the global economy appearing more balanced than for a number of years, the key question for 2014 is whether companies are feeling sufficiently confident to translate their strong investment intentions into concrete action.

"Next month’s Budget must send out a powerful signal that government will continue to act on delivering a competitive business environment that will give the private sector confidence to invest.”