March 2016 – Scaffolding & Access
As economic recoveries go, this one seems decidedly schizophrenic.
As Builders’ Conference CEO Neil Edwards notes (p12) the Office for National Statistics last month hinted at an economic slump on the horizon; but you’d never guess, looking at last month’s healthy crop of contracts awards.
In the City of London, economists warn that the markets have been behaving for some time as if a recession is on its way - falling oil prices a particularly ominous sign, they tell us.
Then of course there’s Europe – in or out? How can we possibly decide?
Well, the Eurozone economy is in real trouble. Last month Germany’s largest bank, Deutsche Bank, was obliged to reassure worried investors of its liquidity. Of course, that merely increased anxiety.
So are the Germans panicking? If they are, you won’t notice it in Munich this month, because Bauma’s in town. The beer will flow and the talk will be of new technology and growing machine sales.
Try telling these people there's a recession just around the corner.
David Taylor
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