Share Sounds presented by Sarah Lowther related to Economics - UK

Manufacturers from all over the country are gathered in Birmingham this week for one of the biggest events in their calendar, the Manufacturer of the Year Awards. In a very uncertain period for the industry, thanks to the fall in the value of sterling, Share Radio's Nick Peters joined us live from Birmingham to discuss the mood and what we can look forward to.

2016 has been a strange year for IPOs. Political and economic uncertainty worldwide has caused some companies including Misys to cancel their initial public offerings, while others, like GoCompare and FreeAgent, are bucking the trend and listing on the stock exchange. So why is the climate good for some and not so for others? Matt Cox has been speaking with Jasper Lawler, Market Analyst at CMC Markets, to find out.

Post-Brexit infrastructure will be one of the discussion points at today's Westminster Energy, Environment and Transport Forum, where delegates will be debating the next steps for major infrastructure projects in the UK, such as Hinkley and HS2. So is Brexit a threat, or will these projects go ahead as smoothly as possible? Matt Cox spoke to Richard Threlfall, Partner and Head of Infrastructure Building & Construction at KPMG, to find out.

Aerospace industry analyst Howard Wheeledon, of Wheeldon Strategic, joined Share Radio Morning Money to look ahead to the airport expansion decision, which is due out later. But is it the end of the line, or will this debate rumble on for years to come?

Consumer confidence has grown in parts of the UK, hitting five year highs post-Brexit. But the figures aren't clear cut as consumer sentiment is being weighed on by the mostly "remain voting" London staying pessimistic. Has Brexit negatively affected some areas of the country economically whilst favouring others? Share Radio's Matt Cox has been speaking to Julian Jessop, Chief Global Economist at Capital Economics.

New data indicates the UK's fashion sector has suffered its sharpest decline this year since the financial crisis. The report from research group Kantar Worldpanel shows sales in the market encompassing clothing, footwear and accessories has fallen for four consecutive months. So why the steep decline, and will the situation improve as we move into the Christmas period? Matt Cox has been speaking to Glen Tooke, Consumer Insight Director at Kantar Worldpanel, to find out.

The International Monetary Fund has defended the grim warnings it made about the potential impact of the UK voting to leave the EU, with its chief economist saying it would have been “malpractice” not to have considered worst-case scenarios. The comments came after the fund nudged up its 2016 growth forecast for the UK but cut the 2017 forecast once again. Jeremy Cook, Chief Economist at World First, joined Share Radio to offer his view on the forecasts.

There's been a catalogue of initial public offerings this autumn, and now mobile phone network O2 is hoping to sell shares to millions of ordinary investors in the first major retail offering in three years. Chris Justham, Relationship Manager at 7 Investment Management, discussed why it's happening.

With economic growth set to propel more than 90% of the world's population into the so-called "consumer class" by 2020, a new report from HSBC Commercial Banking suggests companies should start preparing today to meet the wants and needs of tomorrow's customer. The co-author of that report Paul Flatters, from futures consultancy Trajectory, joined the Morning Money team to talk about the research.

Figures from Barclaycard reveal consumer spending in August reached a 13-month high of 4.2%, as warmer weather prompted shoppers to splash out on clothes and entertainment. It conflicts with BRC data however, which showed that consumers cut back on spending. So which to believe? Paul Lockstone, Managing Director at Barclaycard, offered his views.