HC Deb 08 March 1984 vol 55 c669W
37. Mr. Knox

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether there have been any further signs that the economy is recovering from the recession.

Mr. Peter Rees

Economic growth is continuing, and is broadly based. In the last three quarters of 1983 GDP was about 3 per cent. higher than in the same period in 1982 and was running above its average level in 1979. Consumer's expenditure grew by about 4 per cent. between 1982 and 1983. Between the first and second halves of last year industrial investment is estimated to have grown by 4 per cent. In the three months to January total export volume, excluding erratic items, was 8 per cent. above the previous three months. And the total number of people in jobs is rising again — up an estimated 85,000 between March and September last year.