WNY Chamber responds to the latest GDP data

Responding to the latest GDP data, published by the Office for National Statistics this morning, Mark Casci, Head of Policy and Representation at West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, said: 

“It is a tribute to the resiliency of Yorkshire’s business community that it helped it generate growth in the face of such turbulent headwinds.

“0.4 per cent growth is to be taken as a positive given the impact of the disruption in the Middle East. The service sector performed particularly robustly, alongside a welcome return to growth in construction, two key sectors in our region.

“But the headline figures shouldn’t disguise the cocktail of cost pressures choking long-term business growth. 

“British Chamber of Commerce research shows domestic policy-driven costs for a typical SME have risen by more than 70% over the past decade. 

“The Autumn Budget must be a game changer for stronger, sustainable growth. We need measures that boost trade, investment and productivity. In short, the Chancellor must back business, cut costs and deliver growth.”