Growth projected for Yorkshire and the Humber in 2014

GDP in Yorkshire and the Humber is expected to pick up from around 1.3% this year to 2.3% in 2014, according to PwC.
PwC’s latest UK Economic Outlook report reports that after a period of generally disappointing growth in 2011 and 2012, the UK and regional economy has shown clear signs of recovery in 2013.
Arif Ahmad, PwC’s Leeds senior partner, said: “After a couple of sluggish years in 2011 and 2012, the Yorkshire economy is showing clear signs of recovery this year and is now gathering real momentum, with predicted growth in line with the UK average. The services sector has been leading the growth but latest data sources indicate that manufacturing and construction are also now starting to recover.
“Given persistent above target inflation, we do not expect any significant further easing of monetary policy and attention could eventually turn to higher interest rates, although possibly not until late 2015, which is when we project the unemployment rate to fall to below 7% in our main scenario.”
The report also notes that spending on housing and utility bills has seen a strong increase and now account for around a quarter of total household spending, up from just 20% before the financial crisis. And this could rise to around 30% by 2030 as a result of rising utility prices and the housing market picking up.
Ahmad added: “The report shows that there have been some noticeable changes in the pattern of consumer spending, which is projected to grow by around 2% in 2013 and around 2.3% in 2014. And we do not expect positive real earnings growth to resume until 2015 and even then only at a modest pace.
“Total household incomes will be supported by continued employment growth, particular in Yorkshire where total employment has risen by 4.9% over the last three years. But upward pressure on energy and food prices could act as a restraint on growth, as could an eventual rise in interest rates later this decade.
“Consumers are likely to remain highly price-conscious as online retailers and high street discount stores continue to take an increasing share of the market even after the economy recovers.”