The economic downturn is continuing to affect different sectors of the economy in different ways.

While total retail sales were flat in August, the travel industry saw overseas trips to the UK increase by 2% during May, June and July, according to the Office for National Statistics.

Meanwhile, manufacturing continues to be depressed. In a survey by the CBI Confederation of British, 58% of manufacturers report that their orders are below normal levels in September, although there are signs that the situation is stabilising.