Low business investment set to persist, says BoE

Companies’ capital spending fell for four successive quarters last year, the longest period of decline outside of a recession since 2003. Bank of England's Mr Haskel said that, whatever the final trade deal between the UK and the EU, business investment was likely to be lower with the BoE forecasting that every form of Brexit will lead to lower economic growth. “The longer-term question is whether [business] investment will eventually bounce back after [Brexit] uncertainty is resolved . . . At least for the next few years the prospect of low investment seems possible,” he said in a speech at Birmingham university.