Consumers have not been spending. This has been the result of Brexit uncertainty as well as shrunken household budgets. The British business community is finally seeing some respite as pay packets have finally grown and consumer confidence could eventually follow suit. Consumer-driven sectors such as retail and food service have suffered through low profits and consequent company insolvencies over the last 12 months. With a little extra cash every month, consumers should start to loosen their purse strings and give businesses a much-needed boost.
According to new data from the Office for National Statistics, wages rose by 3.1 per cent in the three months to August, finally outpacing inflation at 2.5 per cent. Bank of England chief economist Andy Haldane has described a “new dawn” for wage growth and many will hope wages will maintain this speed in the long run. While Brexit uncertainty still has the country in a tight grip, this could release a bit of the tension.
Unemployment remains record-low, with figures falling by 46,000 in the three months to August. This means more people are employed and enjoying a solid wage. This should improve morale and hopefully create more spendthrifts during the holiday season at the end of the year.
The most pressing concern remains whether the UK economy can sustain this upward trajectory. Samuel Tombs, chief UK economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics isn’t convinced the trend will continue, particularly within the public sector. The chief economist doesn’t hesitate to remind us, that despite recent upturns, British consumers still remain £20 worse off now than they were 10 years ago before the financial crisis.
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