LONDON (AFX) - UK economic figures to be released this week are expected to show further signs of imbalance between robust domestic consumption and the contracting manufacturing sector, economists said. Retail sales figures for August are expected to show that UK consumers are still spending, despite evidence this week, including the slump in manufacturing output, that the global slowdown is starting to bite.
"We expect retail sales to show another buoyant expansion in the August release," Credit Suisse First Boston economist Robert Jukes said.
Labour market figures too are expected to remain robust despite recent news of job cuts.
"Survey evidence suggest the labour market is approaching a turning point, and we do expect a rise in the claimant count later this year, but not just yet," Royal Bank of Scotland economist Geoffrey Dicks said.
"With the stock of unfilled vacancies at historic highs, demand for labour still looks firm," he said.
Economists' forecasts for UK economic figures due the week from Sept 10 (percentage changes unless otherwise specified).
AFX CONSENSUS
PREVIOUS
MONDAY SEPT 10
Aug producer input prices (9.30 am)
month-on-month -0.4 -1.8
year-on-year -1.4 -0.3

Aug producer output prices (9.30 am)
month-on-month -0.1 -0.2
year-on-year +0.4 +0.1

Aug core output prices (9.30 am)
month-on-month 0.0 0.0
year-on-year +0.2 +0.2

WEDNESDAY SEPT 12
Aug jobless (9.30 am)
month-on-month (000s) -5 -12.8

3 mths to July average earnings (9.30 am)
year-on-year +4.7 +4.8

3 mths to July unit wage costs (9.30 am)
year-on-year +2.3 +1.9

THURSDAY SEPT 13
Aug retail sales (9.30 am)
month-on-month +0.4 +0.6
year-on-year +6.1 +6.0

The AFX consensus is the median of a range of forecasts gathered by AFX News from a broad sample of private sector economists.
Release times are London times.