British Independent Retailers Association (BIRA) has reacted to the chancellors plans to help lift the UK’s economic growth and called for him to give ‘clarity’.On Friday (27), the Chancellor Jeremy Hunt made his first major speech since the Autumn statement, and said that his focus would be on growing the economy.BIRA, which works with over 6,000 independent businesses of all sizes across the UK, has been calling on the government to focus on growth as well as containing inflation after recent figures highlighted that consumers reduced their spend on the run up to Christmas and in January.In his speech, the chancellor announced his framework for growth, and also said his strategy would focus on four pillars, or “four Es”- enterprise, education, employment and everywhere.BIRA CEO Andrew Goodacre said, “At last we have some idea of how this government will grow the economy. Unfortunately it is only words at this stage, and we can only hope that the Chancellor will use his Spring Statement in March to provide more of the details.“There is a general acceptance that inflation will fall this year by virtue of the previous inflationary factors naturally decreasing. This should allow the government to devote time to developing meaningful plans to provide growth and increase consumer confidence. I hope that the E for everywhere includes the high street businesses that are feeling the brunt of the reduced consumer expenditure,” he added.
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