万花筒 2010-01-28&01-29 经济衰退期结束？（在线收听）

The longest recession in UK history is expected to be officially declared over today. Experts predict the beleaguered economy grew by 0.4% between October and December. The period of growth comes after a record six straight quarters of contraction. During the 18 month of recession brought on by the credit crunch, and then the financial crisis, public borrowing ballooned to an estimated 178 billion pounds. While output has slumped 6%. This far exceeds the recession of the early 1990s is the worst slump since Margaret Thatcher took office 30 years ago. New data should reflect the slow recovery among services firms, while manufacturing is also likely to have seen tentative growth. Despite disappointing retail sales figures for December. Official confirmation of recovery will mean the UK, the last of the major G7 economies to leave recession. The green shoots may ease the political pressure on Prime Minister Gordon Brown who faces a general election within a month but not all small business owners believe the economy really is out of the woods yet.

-It's not over yet, actually, and still lots of people are under lots of pressure. There are lots of people who couldn't even find a job yet.

-Do you buy the idea that the recession is now over?

-No, not at all. I think it's one big con. Because they just try to tell you something to keep you sweep, to stop you, you know, campaigning against them. Obviously they wanna stay and play on this government, so they could, can pull in all the tricks under the sun. There is situation when the banks ever think, just undermines everyone's confidence in anything, and they just depleted my butcher's business overnight basically.

-Actually we just shut our beauty salon at moment ,because most of people can't afford to have beauty sessions even when it comes to hair,I'm thinking to drop down my prices,it's gonna be done so soon, people find it so expensive now. It's a big luxury to them even to do their hair.