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Trade boost for Osborne's trip to Brazil [Daily Mail, London :: ](Daily Mail (London, England) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) April 08--Exports from Britain's powerhouse services sector have hit an all-time high, according to figures published today. The British Chambers of Commerce said export sales and export orders soared to record levels in the first three months of the year amid booming demand for UK expertise in 'everything from accountancy and marketing through to literature and IT'. Manufacturers also enjoyed a strong start to the year with six key measures at all-time highs – domestic sales, domestic orders, employment expectations, investment in plant and machinery, investment in training and turnover confidence. The BCC hailed a 'positive' start to the year and said 'the UK economy is continuing to grow' but warned there is still a long way to go. 'The recovery must become more balanced in the months ahead as it is still too reliant on consumer spending,' said director general John Longworth. 'We have witnessed many false dawns during the recovery and external shocks still loom on the horizon. Long-term policies that support our businesses as they look to grow and invest are crucial.' George Osborne yesterday outlined plans to increase lending to exporters and cut the costs of selling goods and services overseas as he stepped up efforts to boost trade. At the start of a three-day trade mission to Brazil, the Chancellor said banks will now have access to a Bank of England facility that will make it less risky for them to give loans to exporters. The Chancellor last month announced a string of policies in the Budget to boost trade including lower taxes on flights and more financial support for exporters. His economic plan is likely to receive a further boost today when the International Monetary Fund publishes its latest outlook for the world economy, including upgrades to its forecasts for UK growth. ___ (c)2014 Daily Mail (London, ) Visit the Daily Mail (London, ) at www.dailymail.co.uk/home/index.html Distributed by MCT Information Services |