Centre for Cities response to the news that the national economy has emerged from recession
Date: 26/01/2010In response to the news that Gross Domestic Product (GDP) increased 0.1 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2009, Dermot Finch, Chief Executive of the Centre for Cities said,
"The UK as a whole is now out of recession - just - but the recovery will be slow and very uneven. Cities with a strong business base - like Brighton - are set to bounce back. But struggling cities like Doncaster will take a lot longer to recover - and will be hit hardest by public spending cuts. The next Government must have a plan to help struggling cities get back on their feet."
For more information please contact:
Rosamund Taylor, External Affairs Manager, Centre for Cities, 020 7803 4316 / 07876 175 426 / r.taylor@centreforcities.org
Notes to editors
The latest Gross Domestic Product (GDP) data for the fourth quarter of 2009 is available online.
Cities Outlook 2010 - the Centre for Cities' flagship annual report, published last Monday (18th January) found that the recession has reinforced the gap between UK city economies, and that the UK faces an uneven recovery. Cities with the best prospects for growth, post-recession, are those with a strong private sector, a skilled workforce and high numbers of knowledge-intensive jobs.
Throughout 2009 Centre for Cities has been tracking the impact of the recession on unemployment, using the monthly Jobseeker's Allowance claimant rate data, across 64 UK cities. A city-by-city fact sheet on the overall claimant and youth claimant data is available for download.
Our 2010 research programme will be examining in more depth how cities can create more private sector jobs.
