Economic Climate

UK GDP contracted 0.3% in the final quarter of 2012, a worse than expected figure that raises the spectre of a triple-dip recession.

Bank of England governor Mervyn King has said the UK economy may contract once again in the fourth quarter of 2012 despite moving out of recession in Q3.

The UK will return to growth in the second half of the year fuelled by consumer spending power despite exports continuing to disappoint, according to Ernst & Young's latest forecast.

The UK is out of recession and had its strongest quarter in two years over the three months to September, according to NIESR.

The Consumer Prices Index (CPI) rate of inflation climbed to 2.6% last month, from 2.4% in June.

Bank of England (BoE) governor Mervyn King has warned against a further cut in interest rates, arguing it would damage the banking sector and may be "counterproductive".

The National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR) has called on the government to loosen its debt reduction plans as growth forecasts are slashed for the UK.

The Bank of England has held interest rates at 0.5% for the 41st consecutive month and kept its bond-purchase target at £375bn.

Capital Economics expects the Bank of England to cut the UK's base rate from 0.5% in an effort to stimulate growth, after last week's GDP figure showed the economy is shrinking faster than feared.

Sentiment among UK and European financial advisers has fallen to its lowest level in 12 months, according to a recent global report.