UK slowdown worst amongst advanced nations - but why

[LadyMuck]

IMF seems to view that the UK economy will shrink more than the Eurozone or the US this year. Why is it looking so bad in comparison with these 2? Any economists out there?

i think Sorrento is being deliberately misunderstood here. From what I can read, she is saying that alot of people came here in the boom times, now the boom times are over, we (the UK) can't afford to support them all as a lot won't go home. I live in London and there are as many Polish here as ever. And lots of them have kids and are settled in the big polish community in west london. They are my friends and their kids are my dd's friends. Why should they go home, even if their dh/dp is out of work? I don't see how that can be seen as a DM type of comment . If I was sorrento I would be very offended at the words some of you are putting in her mouth.

Our state spending has been out of control for a long time. A lot of apparent wealth was on the back of public sector excess.
Now the City has fallen on hard times there is nothing to fund that excess.

Can I just add that it has been reported in the South African press that a lot of families have returned to SA from the UK and Europe because job opportunities have dried up ...

Buy what FioFio?
Cars, TVs, Clothes?

How much of the consumables that cosumers actually want to buy in high volumes regularly do we manufacture or manufacture enough?

How much of it is actually British owned?

In the big scheme of things, is it not better to invest in innovation that gives us a unique selling point and a headstart in the market? That is where we will gain our competitive advantage, increase business and therefore growth.

One of the few good things about a recession is that it drives innovation, creativity, enterprise and entrepreneurism. That is how the UK economy will emerge out of the recession and that is where our energies should be focused instead of blaming immigrants.

With interest rates so low, this is a great time to start a business providing you have a sound business plan, know your market place, have a product/service that will sell and have an edge over your potential competitors.

The Brits have become lazy and dumbed down that simple and we've been overtaken by many other nations and we'll pay the price for that.
So many people have worked part time or from home over the past 5 years and spent non existent money from HPI.
Well the parties over so get over it and start working.

FioFio beat you to it i'm afraid DH and I were laid off before Christmas.
Oh and Dh starts his new £80k role in March, there are lots of jobs out there I can assure you.

British companies also need to grow their customer base, not just in the UK but abroad. British companies, in my limited experience, do not market themselves very well or enough. They think it is money down the drain. If you do not tell people what you have, why it is good or better than a competitor's product, why should anyone buy it?

B2B and B2C businesses need to be more savvy in promoting themselves and put in the hard work that comes with that and which too many fail to do imho.

Totally off topic but today I needed a new floor covering so I thought I'll support my local economy and call the carpet shop at the top of the road and get a quote, now on the manufacturers website it states this covering is recommended retail price is £16-18 per square metre.
He quotes me £23 sq metre, I question this and the arrogance took my breath away, "i could sell it you for £16 pm but then i'd make it back on the fitting" The reason local shops and business' are going down the pan is because they are uncompetitive.
Of course I found the product at the local large chain for £14.95 but I would have paid the £16 to support a local business had he not taken the piss.