BoE: financial distress in retail and leisure reflects weak consumer spending growth

Below are some of the key highlights from the BoE Agents' Summary of Business Conditions for Q1 2018, released this Wednesday.

   •  Robust growth in goods exports had tightened capacity and, together with improving profit margins, strengthened  investment intentions in manufacturing slightly.

   •  Recruitment difficulties remained a primary concern, though the impact on pay growth had been limited.

   •  Some evidence of financial distress in retail and leisure, reflecting weak consumer spending growth.