Game of two halves for UK economy in 2011

It forecasts GDP growth of 1.8% and average CPI inflation of 3.2% over the course of the year. Howard Archer, the firm's chief UK and European economist, says he expects to see GDP growth of 1.8% in 2011, a marginal increase on the 1.7% he forecast in 2010. "Economic activity is seen slowing appreciably in the first half of 2011," he says. "The heightened turmoil in the eurozone could negatively impact on the UK economy, particularly through hitting exports. "Specifically, we expect GDP growth to slow to 0.3% quarter-on-quarter in both the first and second quarters of 2011 before p...