ECONOMISTS’ VIEWS: WILL LONGER SUNDAY TRADING HOURS BOOST GDP?
ANDREW GOODWIN | ERNST AND YOUNG ITEM CLUB
“People have an amount to spend, and although this will allow greater flexibility it is unlikely to change overall spending. Nonetheless, giving consumers greater choice and availability is good thing, and it could create a few extra jobs covering hours that are not covered at the moment.”
HOWARD ARCHER | IHS GLOBAL INSIGHT
“Purely in terms of economic activity, it can’t do any harm and could provide a limited temporary boost to growth. Consumer spending is a key element of GDP, so any action that facilitates spending could have a positive impact. And there may be a feel good factor during the Olympics that encourages people to spend.”
MARK LITTLEWOOD | INSTITUTE OF ECONOMIC AFFAIRS
“Sunday trading restrictions are a small but significant example of the UK’s tendency to retain heavy-handed regulation rather than encouraging a growing and vibrant economy. We should do all we can to maximise the boost to our retail sector during the Olympics and assist our economy more generally.”