oh, more analysts announcing impending doom . . .
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/...-hit-uk-trade/
some snippets:
Over 2017 as a whole exports rose by £62.5bn, outpacing the £55.5bn rise in imports and so reduced the deficit to £33.7bn.
Despite the drag from trade in December the economy still accelerated overall in the final quarter of the year to grow by 0.5pc, even with these specific headwinds.
“Excluding oil and erratic items, growth in export volumes exceeded growth in imports in the fourth quarter, suggesting that the underlying picture for net trade is much better than these figures suggest,” said Paul Hollingsworth at Capital Economics.
The National Institute for Economic and Social Affairs estimates that UK GDP grew by 0.5pc in the three months to January, with both the manufacturing and services sectors contributing to the expansion.
"We are forecasting GDP growth of close to 2pc this year assuming a soft Brexit scenario," said Niesr's Amit Kara.
"At this speed the economy could start to overheat unless the Bank of England withdraws some of the stimulus that it has injected by raising the policy rate."
Mr Kara anticipates an interest rate rise in May, and another hike every six months until the base rate reaches 2pc.
Doesn't sound like a doomsday scenario to me,
but it is short term . . . and we haven't left yet (added for Andrew)
