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Everywhere I go, I hear people talk of green shoots appearing. Our own business has certainly seen an upswing with several major new account wins recently. You shouldn't really see green shoots appearing in tarmac - certainly not if it has been laid properly - but it appears there are green shoots on the surface there too!
The AA and Trafficmaster recently announced an 11% increase in traffic congestion on our roads since September, indicating an upswing in economic activity as more people take to the roads chasing business or have more money in their pockets to pursue leisure activities.
We may not like congestion but as an indicator of an uplift in economic fortunes, it has to be seen as a positive turnaround.
The news certainly has to be welcome relief after the report published earlier in the year by the AA and Trafficmaster, based on a survey of 75,000 drivers and five years data, that congestion on motorways and major trunk roads had reduced by 31% over the past two years.
The report deduced that 23% of commuters who lost their jobs in the previous 12 months were responsible for half the drop at 15% during morning weekday rush-hour. And, of those in employment, 20% advised they had worked from home more often, 14% had used public transport and 12% had shared cars, all to save on commuting costs.
The recent increase in traffic congestion, after the first fall in 20 years, has also to be seen as encouraging, given the backdrop of escalating fuel prices. These are set to see £5 per gallon at the pumps by the end of the year, not exactly the most wonderful Christmas present to receive!
If the green shoots continue to grow steadily stronger over the coming 12 to 18 months, albeit slowly, it is to be hoped the next Government in power - because there will be new brooms sweeping through the corridors of Westminster come next summer - invests more of its transport-generated revenues back into transport, namely on improving our transport infrastructure and improving the driving habits of all motorists.
As I've maintained many times before, we need to keep the country on the move to keep the economy on the move.
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