Economic Statistics - unemployment, inflation, etc..

Growth

Growth (GNP) in the third quarter of 2011 was 0.8%. In the final quarter or first of 2012 there is now a fear of recession. expectations have been significantly reduced over the last quarter, coinciding with the Euro crisis.
2010 was 0.2% (annualised -0.1%). The government had expected the annual figure to be -0.3%, so it is encouraged by the export-driven growth in the final quarter, which helped escape recession. Expectations remain low of job-creating levels of growth this year. First impressions can be read from the BBC.
According to a BBC article (16 November '06), half of all growth over the previous 5 years was due to the contribution of immigrants. Likewise, as depression hit, many of these saw their jobs first in line for the chop, especially as building firms were hit. 900,000 new homes remained unsold at the end of 2009.