The UK’s economic pulse and societal trends come into sharper focus with the latest release of real-time indicators. These swift measures, generated through rapid response surveys and innovative data sources, shed light on the country’s evolving landscape.
Highlights at a Glance:
1. Business and Workforce Dynamics:
- Small businesses saw a 4% surge in paid jobs in June 2023 compared to May 2023. Sales by these enterprises jumped 5% in June 2023, marking an 8% increase over June 2022.
- Online job adverts dipped 3% on July 28, 2023, from the previous week, settling 10% below the level seen in the same period last year.
- About 9% of active businesses faced the impact of industrial action in June 2023.
2. Consumer Behavior in Focus:
- Revolut debit card spending increased by 9%, retail footfall hit 104% of the previous week’s level, and in-store transactions gained momentum at 6 out of 10 Pret A Manger store categories.
3. Energy and Housing Trends:
- Gas prices rose by 5%, and electricity prices surged 18% compared to the previous week. However, both remained notably lower than the corresponding week in 2022.
4. Transport Patterns:
- The average UK flight count remained steady in the week ending July 30, 2023, but showed a 9% boost from the same period in 2022.
- London’s car traffic camera activity witnessed a 2% decrease during the week.