LONDON (AFX) - UK economic figures to be released this week are expected to show further signs of imbalance between robust domestic consumption and the weak international environment, economists said. Current account figures for the second quarter are expected to show that UK consumers are still spending and sucking in imports while export growth is expected to slow against the background of weakening international demand.
"The general trend is one of weakening, with a slowing global economy and with rate cuts propping up the domestic economy," Philip Shaw, chief economist at Investec said.
Final second-quarter GDP figures (3rd revision) are expected to remain unchanged from the previous figures. National Statistics is to introduce major changes in the way it calculates the figures, including estimates of personal imports and smuggling of alcohol and tobacco. Economists said it was difficult to say what effect the changes would have and that consequently the previous revision were their best estimate.
Economists' forecasts for UK economic figures due the week from Sept 24 (percentage changes unless otherwise specified):
AFX CONSENSUS PREVIOUS
TUESDAY SEPT 25
Q2 Current account (9.30 am) -5.0 bln stg -0.2 bln

Final Q2 GDP (9.30 am)
quarter-on-quarter +0.3 +0.3
year-on-year +2.1 +2.1
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.