These are exciting times to be teaching AS macroeconomics what with debates about rising inflation and slowing growth and intense discussion about future directions for UK fiscal policy, volatile currencies and commodity prices and signs of a return to even higher unemployment.

Today we learned of (provisional) evidence of a contraction in real GDP for the UK and renewed fears of a double dip. For teachers keen to display an up to date chart of what is happening to GDP, inflation, unemployment and consumer confidence I have made available for download (see the link below) an updated PowerPoint chart set for the UK. Nothing fancy just six selected charts! They might be good for annotated handouts.

UK economic cycle update: UK_Economy_Jan_2011.pptx

Stephanie Flanders reports on the unexpectedly severe contraction in UK economic activity

Coverage here of a speech given by Bank of England governor Mervyn King on the economic situation