Optimism still reigns in Britain. The country’s economy, and related exchange traded fund (ETF), could be past the worst of the recession, but economic numbers are not exactly lining up with people’s hopes at the monent.
Peter Mandelson, deputy to Gordon Brown, says the worst of the recession is over, according to the Economist. Businesses and purchasing managers have reported improvements in manufacturing and increases in output. Residential builders are relieved with a possible stabilization of the housing market.
But the favorable signs are now being followed by poor economic data with a GDP drop of 2.4%, up from earlier projected 1.9%, in the last three months of 2009 and the first quarter of 2009. Output was down 4.9%, compared to the previous estimated 4.1%, since the start of 2008.
Auspicious signs of the economy are turning up. Some have reasoned that the severe downturn was because firms rapidly reduced their inventories. Eventually, companies will have to satisfy demand from new production, boosting the economy.
Monetary and fiscal policies are working to revive the economy. The Bank of England is keeping rates at a low of 0.5% and supplying $206 billion, or 9% of GDP. Fiscal policy is rather loose, so much so that some are worrying about the future plans for fixing the budget deficit.
- iShares MSCI United Kingdom Index (EWU): up 5.9% year-to-date
For more information on the United Kingdom, visit our U.K. category.
Max Chen contributed to this article.
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