UK sees consumer worries near crisis-era levels, investment falls

Bloomberg

Concern about Brexit’s impact on the UK economy is growing, with consumer worries near crisis-era levels, investment falling and the property market suffering.
Nationwide Building Society said that house-price growth ground close to a halt as values rose just 0.1 percent in January from a year earlier. That report came hours after research group GfK said consumers are the least optimistic about the economic outlook in seven years.
A lack of clarity over the nation’s exit from the European Union is leaving households worried about Britain’s prospects. Bank of England figures show that mortgage approvals fell in December and consumer credit is the weakest in four years.
The slowdown isn’t confined to consumers, and is being felt across the UK economy as political chaos in Westminster dents sentiment.
British Prime Minister Theresa May has yet to find a deal that’s acceptable to both the EU and Parliament, and the risk of UK crashing out of the EU without new arrangements is rising as the March 29 exit date approaches.
Separate figures showed the British automotive industry saw investment plunge last year as carmakers delayed decisions on upgrading machinery and factories. Spending dropped 46 percent, the lowest since the global financial crisis.
“Consumers, companies and corporations thrive on certainty, which is in short supply just two months before the planned date for the UK’s EU-exit,” said Joe Staton, client strategy direc-
tor at GfK. “The next few months promise to be turbulent for the consumer.”