Managing the decline! It is apparent that vested interests have been trying to manage information to prevent economic panic. They should be honest & frank so that people can make a sharp adjustment. Otherwise the recession will deepen as this Govt obfuscates its responsibility to cut public spending

Steve Marchant, Newton Abbot, UK

Managing the decline! It is apparent that vested interests have been trying to manage information to prevent economic panic. They should be honest & frank so that people can make a sharp adjustment. Otherwise the recession will deepen as this Govt obfuscates its responsibility to cut public spending.

Steve Marchant, Newton Abbot, UK

On current trends the UK GDP will likely shrink 1-2% over the next 12 months. Call it whatever you like - this is a recession. More worrying is that growth might not pick up for another 2-3 years, leading to falling incomes and general "misery" for the British public.

Paul, London,

Gordon B can't blame this one on global dynamics!

The world economy's slowing, but continues to grow nonetheless, +4.1% this year if you believe the IMF. America's posted +1.9% growth in the last 2 quarters.

The UK's in a downturn largely of its own making. What price 'economic prudence' now?

Richard Brown, Berkhamsted, UK

Labour have been overstating the case for the economy for years, growth is dependent on increasing personnel debt and a punative tax policy. The honey pot is empty what is Prudence Brown going to do now?
Raise taxes and blame an increased terrorist threat!

steve tea, manchester, cheshire

With each passing month economic predictions show the economic outlook to be bleaker than the last. What does that say for economic forecasting? it seems ot be like the long term weather forecast which changes by the day.

S.M. Cooper, Consett, uk

Like the entire UK community, trade union members will be also be exposed to the effects of a recession.
However perhaps they need a gentle reminder that redundancies will be avoidable and their jobs more secure if they restrain calls from their leadership for inflationary wage demands.

WILLIAM GRIERSON, KIMPTON, UK

We are in a historical cyclical downturn, so there is nowt you can do about it Alastair. So face up to realities and do whats best for the country........if you know HOW!!! because I dont think Gordon has a clue either.

louis, Liverpool, Uk

what did Brown tell us about stability...zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

bob holmes, axbridge , England

How can they say that "Britain looks likely to be the first major economy to fall into recession"!? UK GDP was flat in Q2, whereas GDP of Germany, France, and Italy actually declined.

Tom, London, UK

Hi Cyril, lettuce looks like a bargain, I think I'll start a rabbit farm.

bob travels, stevenage,

Luckily with G Brown's input over the last 10 years everything is fine and dandy.
Pride in being brain dead.

dave, northwood, looneybin uk

If banks were to sell off all problem debts they would be more than capable of maintaining full lending capability. Their present actions are nominal to what they could do and it needs a strong Bank of England and FSA to get their acts in gear. Unfortunately that now looks more unlikely every day!

Robert D Marshall, LONDON, UK

The government is going to face continued weakening of corporation derived revenue for a long time. From my own company Corporation tax will likely fall 80% and our net VAT contributions have fallen by 50% relative to last year. It'll be borrow borrow borrow and also, likely, hike personal tax time

B Greig, Shrewsbury, UK

A drop in GDP puts the government in default of the 1948 Act that guarantees state pension growth by perpetual growth in GDP. There is no fund - what goes in one day is paid out the same day - so the 1948 Act made sure it could be called a pension by this binding clause. Darling the law breaker!

Sue Doughty, Twyford, UK

We need a down turn, a decade of economic ignorance from consumers, yes you and me, has got us here. Our greed of cheap credit and need to purchase inflated houses are at the route of this problem. Likely a naughtly school boy expecting a caning, we will need to brace ourselves before the recovery

Bhavin, London,

Growth in GDP is calculated net of inflation, understate inflation and you overstate GDP growth.
Now look at the table of food prices in the next column, and tell me that annual inflation is 4.4% as claimed by the government.
I'm sure real GDP is already dropping.

Cyril Berkeley, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

i do not believe for one moment that Darling has 'control' over budget decisions. The control freak Brown once in charge of the purse strings surely still is?
Is Brown likely to hand over the reigns bearing in mind his absolute control (keeping Blair at bay) whilst he (Brown) was at the tresurey

mike, gloucester, uk

Forget 2009, 2008 still has 4 months to Go! Taylor Wimpey's loss's mean "Any Tax Paid Last year" will be "Refunded" plus "Losses carried forward" mean "No Revenues for "Brown" for "Years to come"! So Much for all the "Forecasting Model's", like Ernst & Young et al? Take in the "Bank's"? No Tax Take!

paul, Newtown,Powys, UK

Against the background of an economy in recession, soaring inflation, rising un-employment, a near collapsed banking industry, Gordon Brown fusses and frets about the Olympics and a Team GB football team for 2012.

Like Nero Mr Brown certainly know how to fiddle as Corporate GB goes down the pan

willie mac, Arden, Scotland

Can I have Darlings Job??
I seem to have a much better grasp on economics than he,or for that matter Brown.
Perhaps he should go back to being a window cleaner or whatever he was.

antony Graham, southport, England

There are no indicators on the horizon that speak of any kind of recovery quite the contrary, Recovery is a long way off.

Peter, Vancouver BC., Canada