Business leaders in Birmingham and Solihull are urging the government to protect the fragility of the first buds of growth which have emerged from the longest recession in years.

Will Rogers, Policy Adviser at Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCI), says that although forward orders have increased in both manufacturing and services, uncertainty remains prevalent.  

He adds: "Our Quarterly Economic Survey shows a slight recovery but lack of bank lending and unemployment still remain serious concerns."

BCI expects the Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) to leave interest rates at 0.5 per cent on Thursday. The MPC has kept borrowing costs at 0.5% since March and is also expected to keep efforts to boost the money supply unchanged at £200 billion. 

Mr. Rogers added: "We eagerly anticipate the fourth quarter gross domestic product figures which will be announced later this month, to see if the economy has finally returned to growth, after six consecutive quarters of contraction."