"Economy set for further deceleration"

The Institute of Directors (IOD) has concluded that the economy is set for further deceleration based on the results of its Business Opinion Survey for the second quarter of 2001. Most of the forward indicators, including order books, suggest the slowdown will continue in forthcoming months. Ruth Lea, Head of the Policy Unit at the IoD, said: "Our latest survey suggests that reported output growth and general business optimism may have stabilised in the second quarter after slipping for the previous four quarters. But there were some more worrying indicators. Both total and export ord...