§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Prime Minister from what month or quarter he estimates the economic recovery began; and if he will set out the evidence from output and trade statistics underlying his estimate.
§ The Prime Minister[holding answer 17 May 1993]: It is always difficult to pinpoint economic turning points accurately until some time after they have occurred. But total output has been rising since last summer, and there have been encouraging signs—in figures for gross domestic product, manufacturing output, retail sales and exports —that recovery is under way across a broad front.