Self-Employment In UK In 2014

In 2014 there were 4.6m self-employed people in the UK accounting for 15% of people in work. It is highest percentage it has been at any point in the last 40 years. There were also 356,000 employees who had a second job in which they were self-employed.

The rise in total employment since 2008 has been among the self-employed. It is largely due to fewer people leaving self-employment than in the past. Self-employed people tend to be older than employees. Self-employment among the over 65s has more than doubled in the past 5 years to reach nearly half a million.

Average median income from self-employment has fallen by 22% since 2008-9. In 2012-13 average median income from self-employment was £207 according to the Family Resource Survey. It should be noted that household surveys tend to underestimate income from self-employment. Income figures also include individuals who made a loss whereas employed people do not get paid a negative figure. Self-employed people do not get the same benefits as employed people in terms of sick pay, paid leave or maternity pay.

London had the highest concentration of self-employed people at 17.3% followed by the south west on 16.6% and the south east at 15.8%. The north east had the lowest concentration at 10.8%.

Across Europe the country with the highest rate of self-employment was Greece with 32%. Italy came next with 23.6% and Romania with 20.4%. The high figure for Greece is partly because of the high proportion of people self-employed in agriculture and the effects of tourism. The lowest rates were in Luxembourg with 8.1%, Denmark with 9% and Estonia with 9.4%. The EU average self-employment rate was 15.2% very close to the 15% in the UK. The UK has seen the third largest percentage rise in self-employment since 2009 at 19% behind Slovenia at 23% and Estonia at 20%. These countries are small in comparison and the average percentage change in the EU as a whole was -0.1%.

Composite Leading Indicators Suggest Stable Growth In The OECD

The OECD Composite Leading Indicators (CLIs) continue to suggest stable growth momentum in the OECD. CLIs are designed to anticipate turning points in economic activity relative to trend.

The US, Canada and the UK CLIs show stable growth momentum and in the UK growth is stabilising at rates above the trend. The CLI for Japan shows an interruption in the growth momentum although it is probably only a temporary effect. The CLIs for the euro area as a whole and for Italy in particular indicate a positive change in momentum. Germany may be losing some of its momentum but it is at a high level.

In the BRICS emerging economies, Brazil's CLI points to below trend growth, China and Russia are growing around the trend and India may be returning to faster growth with a CLI suggesting a positive turning point.

International Merchandise Trade Slow Again

Most of the major economies experienced a continuation of the slowdown in merchandise trade seen in the second quarter in the third quarter of 2012 according to data from the OECD. Imports and exports fell in Brazil, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, S.Africa and the US. Imports also decreased in France and the UK. Moderate export growth occurred in France and the UK. Exports fell in Canada, China and India. Imports grew moderately in Canada and China but there was stronger growth in India.

OECD Growth Of 0.2% In Q3

The OECD's provisional estimates for growth in member's GDP suggest an increase of 0.2% for the third quarter of 2012. The rate is the same for the previous quarter but there was divergent change across countries. GDP growth in the UK accelerated to 1% due to the Olympics. In the US growth increased to 0.5% from 0.3%. Growth in Framnce was also up to 0.2% from 0.1%. Growth slowed down in Germany and Italy saw the fifth consecutive month of contraction. In the G7, the seven major economies, on the annual comparison the US had the highest growth rate with 2.3% and Italy the largest contraction, -2.4%.

Signs Of Weak Growth Prospects In OECD CLI's

The composite leading indicators of the OECD suggest there may be weak growth prospects in major economies. The CLIs for Japan, Germany, France and the Euro Area pont to weak growth but there are signs of stabilisation in other economies such as Canada, China and the US and possibly Italy as well. Weak growth signs also appear in India and Russia.

OECD Inflation Up To 2.2%

Annual inflation in the OECD area increased to 2.2% in September 2012 from 2.1% in August according to data from the OECD. Higher energy prices, at 5.1% increase, were the main cause of the slight increase. Food prices slowed to 2.1% in September after an increase of 2.2% in August.If food and energy atre excluded OECD inflation was 1.6% compared with 1.7% in August. Euro area inflation in September was 2.6%. In the UK it fell from 2.5% in August to 2.2% and in the US it increased to 2% from 1.7% and remained stable in Canada and Italy. Inflation also fell in France and Germany.

OECD Leading Index Down 0.1%

The composite leading indicator index from the OECD shows a decline of 0.1% between July and August 2012 and a comparable fall with December 2011. The group of seven major economies also fell by 0.1% between July and August but the fall between August and December 2011 was 0.2%. The euro area, France, Italy and the US also fell 0.1%. Germany fell 0.2%. The UK index increased by 0.1%.

Decline In Economic Sentiment In Euro Area

The Economic Sentiment Indicator (ESI) produced by the Economic and Financial Affairs department of the European Commission remained unchanged in the EU27 but declined by 0.6% in the euro area to 89.9. There was falling confidence in industry, services and among consumers but increasing confidence in retail trade and construction.

Sentiment improved in the UK by 1.9 points, Spain (+1) and Italy (+0.9) but got worse in France and Germany by -1.5 and -1.4 points respectively. Germany is the only country which is above its long-term average.

Consumer confidence declined slightly by 0.3 points in the EU27 and 0.5 points in the euro area. The decline is based on falling confidence and expectations about the future general economic situation and increased fears of unemployment. Consumers' expectations about their own financial situation and savings have improved.

GDP Per Capita Ranged From 45% To 274% In EU In 2011

GDP per capita estimates expressed in Purchasing Power Standards (PPS) in the EU in 2011 ranged from 45% in Bulgaria to 274% in Luxembourg, more than two and a half times the EU27 average according to Eurostat. The euro area GDP per capita was 108% of the EU27 average as was the UK. Germany was 120%, France 107% and Italy 101%.

European Unemployment Reaches 10.9%

The EU27 unemployment rate reached 10.2% in March 2012, compared with 9.4% Last March. The euro area unemployment rate was 10.9% compared with 10.8% in February and 9.9% last March. The figures mean that there were 24.772m unemployed people in the EU in March 2012, 17.365m of which were in the euro area, an increase of 193,000 and 169,000 respectively compared with February and 2.123m and 1.732m respectively on March 2011. The unemployment rate ranged from 4% in Austria to 24.1% in Spain. The median was Italy at 9.8%. Youth unemployment in Europe was at 3.345m or 22.1% in the euro area and 5.516m or 22.6% in the EU27 in March 2012.

Inflation In The OECD Continues To Rise In September

Consumer prices in the OECD countries continued to rise in September by 3.3% after a 3.2% increase in August. It is the highest rate since October 2008. The 5.2% rise in inflation in the UK in September was mainly due to the 18.1% rise in energy prices in September after a 12.3% rise in August. It is back to the peak of September 2008, the highest since records began in January 1997. Consumer price inflation also increased in Italy (3%), Germany (2.6%), the US (3.9%) and Canada (3.2%). In France prices remained stable but in Japan prices fell by 0.2% to 0%. In Europe, the HICP increased to 3%.

Falls In UK Productivity Levels

Productivity per worker in the UK fell relative to all G7 countries except Italy and Germany in 2010, but it was above that of Japan and similar to Canada. The productivity gap between the UK and the US is the biggest since 1994. All G7 countries have seen an increase in GDP per worker and GDP per hour between 2009 and 2010. UK productivity was lower than the G7 average on both measures. GDP per worker was lower than in France, Italy and the US (the highest in G7).

All G7 countries experienced productivity growth in GDP per hour worked in 2010. In the UK growth was the result of a combination of a fall in actual hours worked and an increase in GDP. While the UK experienced a fall in hours worked per worker between 2009 and 2010 other countries saw a reduction in total hours as a result of lower employment.

The US saw the largest growth in GDP per worker of the G7 countries. The UK previously a fast growth country saw falls similar to those in Canada, France and Germany due to employment falling more slowly than GDP.

OECD Inflation Continues to Increase

Consumer prices indices for the OECD countries continue to increase. The OECD CPI went up by 2.9% in April 2011 compared with 2.7% in March. Energy prices accounted for much of the increase with a 13.8% rise compared with 12.4% in March.

Inflation accelerated most in the UK with an increase to 4.5% and the US to 3.2%. Germany also experienced an acceleration of inflation to 2.4%. France's inflation rose to 2.1% and Italy's to 2.6%. Canada remained stable at 3.3%. The euro area inflation (HICP) was at 2.8% in May from 2.7% in April.

The latest figures from Eurostat suggest that euro area inflation was back to 2.7% again in May with EU inflation at 3.2%.

OECD CLI Suggest Slow Down In Recovery

The Composite Leading Indicators (CLIs) published by the OECD for April 2011 suggest a slight loss of momentum in most major economies with the US the exception. Stability in the pace of expansion was suggested in Germany and the UK but France, Italy and Canada show signs of a slowdown. Signs of a slowdown also appear in China, Brazil, India and Russia.

OECD CLIs Show Signs Of Expansion

The composite leading indicators of the OECD countries for February 2011 signify continued expansion in the economies of most member countries. The OECD area annual growth rate was 1.8% compared with the Euro area 1%. The trend of expansion is continuing in Germany and the United States. The rate of expansion seems to be slower but stable in the UK. France and Canada are possibly regaining momentum but Italy may be losing momentum.

Russia seems to be continuing its current economic expansion phase while China shows signs of more moderate economic activity. India is pointing towards a slowdown but Brazil should remain near its long-term potential. The Major 5 Asian economies grew by 0.2% over the last year and the Major 7 by 2.1%.

CLI Shows Signs Of A Peak In US Economy

The OECD composite leading indicators for August suggest that economic expansion is continuing to slow down. The CLI decreased by 0.1 point in August for the fourth month in a row. A downturn is expected in Canada, France, UK, Italy, Brazil, India and China. Expansion is indicated for Germany, Japan and Russia. The US is showing signs of a peak in economic activity.

Moderate Growth Expected In OECD

The latest OECD composite leading indicators statistics signify a moderation in the rate of expansion compared to last month. The index for the OECD was down 0.1 in July 2010.

The downturn predicted for Canada, France, Italy, UK, China and India means that the signs suggest a slower rate of economic growth than was anticipated for last month. The outlook for Brazil, US and Japan is that they will possibly peak and their expansion may lose momentum. The German and Russian economies are expected to expand as are the OECD and the Euro areas. The OECD area last peaked in February 2008 and troughed in May 2009 along with the Euro area which last peaked in March 2008.

OECD GDP Expands By 2.8%

GDP growth in the OECD increased by 0.7% in Q2 2010 as it did during the first quarter. Real GDP grew by 1% in the euro area and the EU driven by record growth of 2.2% in Germany. It is the highest rate since reunification. The UK saw growth of 1.1% from 0.3%, France 0.6% from 0.2% and Italy unchanged at 0.4%. Growth slowed in the US and Japan with growth figures of 0.1% and 0.6% respectively from 1.1% and 0.9% in the first quarter. GDP in the OECD area expanded by 2.8% from 2.4% on the previous quarter. The highest rate was in Germany with 3.7% and the lowest was Italy with 1.1%.

OECD Inflation Up To 1.6% In July

Consumer prices in OECD countries increased by 1.6% in the year to July 2010 from 1.5% in June. The increase is mainly due to energy and food prices developments which saw increases of 6.2% and 1.1% respectively. In terms of percentage price increases on the previous month, prices increased by 0.5% in Canada, 0.4% in Italy and 0.3% in Germany but fell by 0.5% in Japan and 0.3% in France and the UK. On the same month in the previous year prices increased by 3.1% in the UK, 1.8% in Canada and 1.7% in France and Italy and fell by 0.9% in Japan. The euro area increased by 1.7% and the EU by 2.1%.

Expansion Slowdown Expected To Continue

The slowdown in economic expansion is set to continue according to the OECD Composite Leading Indicators for May 2010. The deceleration continued into the 10th month with an increase of 0.1% point.

France, Italy, China and India seem to have reached a peak in the growth cycle and signs of a peak are emerging in Canada the UK and Brazil. Ongoing expansion is still taking place in Germany, Japan, the US and Russia but at a slower pace. The ASEAN coutries are generally gaining momentum of recovery.