News

Latest updates and stories from Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce and its Members

Strong job figures point to economic growth

  • In the three months to September 2013, the unemployment rate was 7.6%
  • In the three months to September 2013, unemployment fell by 48,000 and employment increased by 177,000
  • Youth unemployment (16-24) fell 9,000 in the three months to September, but was still high at 965,000, and the jobless rate was 21%
  • The claimant count fell 41,700 between September and October 2013
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Export must be UK priority

  • The UK deficit on trade in goods and services was £3.3bn in September 2013, unchanged from August
  • There was a £9.8bn deficit on goods, partly offset by a £6.5bn surplus on services
  • The trade deficit in goods and services increased markedly in Q3 2013, largely reflecting a wider goods deficit (down £4.3bn - £3.8bn goods)
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Manufacturing recovery - still challenges

  • Manufacturing output rose 1.2% between August and September 2013, while total production increased by 0.9%
  • In the three months to September 2013, manufacturing output rose 0.9% over the previous three months, but when compared with a year earlier, there was only a minimal increase (0.1%)
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Retail sales point to growth

  • Retail sales volumes for August 2013: down 0.9% on the month; up 2.1% on the year
  • The August fall comes after a strong increase in July, and the trend in sales remains clearly upward, with an increase of 1.7% in the three months to August, compared with the previous three months
  • Annual inflation in the retail sector slowed from 1.8% in July 2013 to 1.6% in August 2013
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Job Figures

  • In the three months to July 2013, unemployment fell 24,000, and employment rose 80,000, compared with the previous quarter
  • In the three months to July 2013, the unemployment rate was 7.7%, down slightly from 7.8%
  • Youth unemployment (16-24 year olds) rose 9,000 to 960,000, and the unemployment rate in this age group was 21%
  • Between March and June 2013, public sector employment fell 34,000, and private sector employment rose 114,000

Read More

Prioritise business lending

Commenting on the MPC decision, announced today by the Bank of England, David Kern, Chief Economist at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said:

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Efforts needed to create jobs

  • In the three months to June 2013, unemployment fell by 4,000, and employment rose by 69,000, compared with the previous quarter
  • Long term unemployment is up, with further increases in the number of those unemployed for more than one year and two years
  • Youth unemployment has risen by 15,000 in the three months to June, and now stands at 973,000
  • In July 2013 the claimant count fell by 29,200, compared with June
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Manufacturers challenged

Manufacturing output in May 2013: -0.8% on the month, -2.9% on the year
Total industrial production is 0.0% on the month, -2.3% on the year

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QES Results

  • BCC’s Quarterly Economic Survey for Q2 2013 shows further progress, with most key balances stronger than in Q1 2013.
  • Service export deliveries balance rose to +36%,  the highest level since the survey began in 1989
  • UK business remains resilient, and confidence is rising, despite most balances remaining below their pre-recession levels in 2007
Read More

Manufacturing figures

  • Manufacturing output in April 2013: -0.2% on the month, -0.5% year on year
  • Total industrial production in April 2013: +0.1% on the month, -0.6% year on year
Read More

Bold policies needed for growth

Commenting on the labour market statistics, published today by the ONS, David Kern, Chief Economist at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) said:

Read More

Strong job figures point to economic growth

  • In the three months to September 2013, the unemployment rate was 7.6%
  • In the three months to September 2013, unemployment fell by 48,000 and employment increased by 177,000
  • Youth unemployment (16-24) fell 9,000 in the three months to September, but was still high at 965,000, and the jobless rate was 21%
  • The claimant count fell 41,700 between September and October 2013
Read More

Export must be UK priority

  • The UK deficit on trade in goods and services was £3.3bn in September 2013, unchanged from August
  • There was a £9.8bn deficit on goods, partly offset by a £6.5bn surplus on services
  • The trade deficit in goods and services increased markedly in Q3 2013, largely reflecting a wider goods deficit (down £4.3bn - £3.8bn goods)
Read More

Manufacturing recovery - still challenges

  • Manufacturing output rose 1.2% between August and September 2013, while total production increased by 0.9%
  • In the three months to September 2013, manufacturing output rose 0.9% over the previous three months, but when compared with a year earlier, there was only a minimal increase (0.1%)
Read More

Retail sales point to growth

  • Retail sales volumes for August 2013: down 0.9% on the month; up 2.1% on the year
  • The August fall comes after a strong increase in July, and the trend in sales remains clearly upward, with an increase of 1.7% in the three months to August, compared with the previous three months
  • Annual inflation in the retail sector slowed from 1.8% in July 2013 to 1.6% in August 2013
Read More

Job Figures

  • In the three months to July 2013, unemployment fell 24,000, and employment rose 80,000, compared with the previous quarter
  • In the three months to July 2013, the unemployment rate was 7.7%, down slightly from 7.8%
  • Youth unemployment (16-24 year olds) rose 9,000 to 960,000, and the unemployment rate in this age group was 21%
  • Between March and June 2013, public sector employment fell 34,000, and private sector employment rose 114,000

Read More

Prioritise business lending

Commenting on the MPC decision, announced today by the Bank of England, David Kern, Chief Economist at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said:

Read More

Efforts needed to create jobs

  • In the three months to June 2013, unemployment fell by 4,000, and employment rose by 69,000, compared with the previous quarter
  • Long term unemployment is up, with further increases in the number of those unemployed for more than one year and two years
  • Youth unemployment has risen by 15,000 in the three months to June, and now stands at 973,000
  • In July 2013 the claimant count fell by 29,200, compared with June
Read More

Manufacturers challenged

Manufacturing output in May 2013: -0.8% on the month, -2.9% on the year
Total industrial production is 0.0% on the month, -2.3% on the year

Read More

QES Results

  • BCC’s Quarterly Economic Survey for Q2 2013 shows further progress, with most key balances stronger than in Q1 2013.
  • Service export deliveries balance rose to +36%,  the highest level since the survey began in 1989
  • UK business remains resilient, and confidence is rising, despite most balances remaining below their pre-recession levels in 2007
Read More

Manufacturing figures

  • Manufacturing output in April 2013: -0.2% on the month, -0.5% year on year
  • Total industrial production in April 2013: +0.1% on the month, -0.6% year on year
Read More

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