Poor production and mortgage data raise recovery fears

Hopes for an economic revival suffered a sharp setback yesterday as activity in the vital manufacturing industry slumped to levels last seen during the recession, mortgage approvals crashed to a record low for April and global growth indicators stumbled. MORE Britain is among the world's gloomiest nations, with just one in ten people rating the economy as 'good', according to a poll. The survey of 24 of the world's biggest economies placed Britain among the most negative countries, ranking alongside Italy and just above France and debt-laden Spain. MORE The pressure mounted on Greece ...