Well 2023 has started with nothing but doom and gloom in the news. Everybody seems to be going on strike, as much as I agree everybody has the right to withdraw their labour have you noticed it’s only the public service that seems to be doing it. I listened to an interview today with the leader of the ASLEF union  who on one hand said that his members worked for private companies and then on the other urged the Government to get round the table to negotiate!!!!

I had a job once where I thought I deserved more money so I asked my boss for a rise. He said no……….so I Ieft and got another job.

Strikes, food banks, fuel poverty, heating or eating, interest rate rises, cost of living crisis……….. do the media ever broadcast good news? Well here’s a bit that you won’t see in the papers. I reckon the construction industry is in pretty good shape, unusual as the first signs of a downturn the construction industry closes their collective wallets quicker than a mousetrap with a mouse stuck in it. Whilst it’s not a buoyant as it was, here at PES we had the best January ever in Thwaites, Terex, Mecalac, Terex/JCB and Barford dumper spares sales. Now that might be because everybody has decided to repair their dumpers rather than chop it in for a new one but they must still be using them otherwise why would you spend money on something to stick it in your yard?

There was another bit of good news that was announced quietly recently. A very clever financial chap on the radio announced that the downturn might not last as long as they originally predicted and hopefully that might be the last interest rise required. I hope so, especially on the interest rate as we have gorged ourselves on cheap rates for years (anybody remember the early 90’s and 15%) and people who have mortgages have seen their monthly payments creep up along with everything else in life creating hardships.

So let’s have some good news in the media, lets not talk ourselves into a deeper downturn than we have to and hope the good times return to all areas of the UK economy. And remember, if you need a Thwaites, Terex, Terex/JCB, Mecalac or Barford dumper part please contact PES and keep our bit of the West Country economy afloat!!!