Howard Archer
Howard Archer
christmas consumers december families held inflated opening performance reinforce spending suspicion themselves treat
If this is confirmed, it will reinforce our suspicion that the December performance was inflated by many consumers opening their wallets to treat their families and themselves at Christmas having held back their spending over much of 2005.
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Mr Brown will clearly look to take advantage of the budget to further his credentials to take over as prime minister from Mr Blair.
basis core deter further hiking inflation interest january limited points rates
Nevertheless, limited core inflation in January will not deter the ECB from hiking interest rates by a further 25 basis points on Thursday.
activity change economic evidence given housing modestly overall recent robust stronger
No change was no surprise, given recent overall evidence of modestly stronger economic activity and a more robust housing market.
along boosts consumer current exactly expected hopes housing picked retail sales strength
Retail sales picked up more than expected in March, which along with the current strength in the housing market, boosts hopes that the consumer is still alive, if not exactly kicking.
bet change currently interest months rates safe seems several
It currently seems a pretty safe bet that interest rates will not change for several more months to come, if at all this year.
consumer continue costs domestic high input intense relatively subdued
Relatively subdued consumer spending, intense domestic and international competition, and high input costs continue to dampen ... the sector.
boost euro feed growth healthier hoping pound recently softer zone
Manufacturers will be hoping that healthier growth in the euro zone and a recently softer pound will increasingly feed through to give them with a significant boost in 2006.
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Our Sunday lunches have been an excellent flagship because that is often many people's first experience of our menus.
activity bank certainty england february interest next rates robust sector service unchanged
Robust service sector activity in February makes it even more of a cast-iron certainty that the Bank of England will keep interest rates unchanged next Thursday.
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It appears that strong competitive pressures on the high street and through the supply chain are continuing to contain any second round inflationary effects of high oil and energy prices.
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It appears that significant discounting is still needed to boost sales volumes.
coming consumer critically depends future growth relatively suspect
Future growth still depends critically on developments in consumer spending, and we suspect that this will be relatively muted over the coming months.
activity bank consumer economic forecast growth held prove sluggish spending suspect
We suspect economic activity over much of 2006 will be held back by sluggish consumer spending and that the Bank of England's growth forecast will prove to be too optimistic.