Outlook and appraisal [September 1988]

Ashcroft, Brian and Love, Jim and Battu, Harminder and Boyle, Stephen and Draper, Paul and Dunlop, Stewart and Grehan, Janet and Harrigan, Frank and Heeley, John and Lockyer, Cliff and Monaghan, Claire and McGregor, Peter and McNicoll, Iain and Perman, Roger and Stevens, Jim (1988) Outlook and appraisal [September 1988]. Quarterly Economic Commentary, 14 (1). i-iii. ISSN 2046-5378

[thumbnail of FEC_14_1_1988_Outlook]
Preview
Text. Filename: FEC_14_1_1988_Outlook.pdf
Final Published Version

Download (321kB)| Preview

Abstract

The Scottish economy continues to perform well. Industrial production remains buoyant, although it is now clear that production has been growing at a lower rate than earlier statistics suggested. In the labour market, the improved output performance has yet to be reflected in a significant increase in net employment. Short term prospects for output growth are nonetheless favourable. But beyond the next three months, the outlook for the Scottish economy depends largely on the outcome of government actions to moderate the pace of growth of UK domestic demand. Policy action to date leaves some cause for concern. Swingeing increases in interest rates are questionable in terms of both the nature and the timing of their effects.