UK will avoid double dip recession: CBI

The business lobby group thinks the UK will avoid an official recession - two quarters of declines in a row - by bouncing back from its 0.2% fall in Q4 2011 to growth of 0.2% in the first quarter of 2012.

It predicts another 0.2% rise in the second quarter of this year before speeding up a little later in 2012.

Overall, it expects growth of 0.9% in 2012 and 2% next year and highlights the fact companies are starting to invest in new equipment and finding new export markets, the BBC reported.

However, consumers and households face a subdued outlook due to high unemployment and squeezed living standards.

CBI director general John Cridland said: "Economic conditions will continue to be tough, especially in the first half of the year and the UK recovery will depend on the successful resolution of the eurozone crisis.

"The pressure on household incomes will also ease slightly in the second half of this year as inflation falls, resulting in a slight increase in consumer spending.

"But weak wage growth and high levels of unemployment will continue to be a brake on household spending."

The CBI added it was encouraged by cash injections from the European Central Bank and core eurozone countries were seeing signs of stabilisation.