Chamber responds to economic growth

Reacting to the news that the economy grew by 0.1 per cent in Q4 of 2024:

Mark Casci, head of policy and representation at West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “While it is of course welcome news that the economy grew during the last quarter of 2024, there is no disguising the fact that business confidence is currently at a deeply low level.

“The headline data from the ONS does not mask the fact that businesses are facing significant challenges in the shape of sky-high costs and a tax burden not seen in a generation, with changes to employment rights legislation posing more costs and concern.

“In order to achieve the Government’s principal objective of achieving economic growth, we need to see rapid and positive steps to improve business confidence by improving trading relationships abroad, reforming business rates and enacting meaningful infrastructure projects.

“This is the only pathway to true economic growth.”