Gloomy news for U.K. housewives

Press, 7 December 1976, Page 8

Gloomy news for U.K. housewives

NZPA-Reuter London British housewives face extensive price increases in the next few months, and industrial export orders are expected to decline, according to the latest survey of economic trends compiled by the Confederation of British Industry.

It shows that 79 per cent of the manufacturers questioned predicted price increases in the next four months; only 1 per cent expected a fall.

, While most industries had earlier been reporting a rise in the number of orders received, the figures show that the orders have tapered off. Despite the gloomy outlook) however, the survey 1

economists feel that the British economy is passing through a temporary pause, rather than dipping back into recession.

Another survey based on the 1975 delivery records of 186 British firms, says that it had provided “truly alarming revelations.” The British Institute of Management says that in vital engineering exports, five firms failed to meet a single delivery date, 25 per cent delivered fewer than half their orders on time, and only four met every promised commitment.

I The data collected proves that 25 per cent of firm* [delivered more orders I**4 than they did on time.