Thread by @NicoleSykes_

Ok. I want to talk about stockpiling because it's a really good example of why, every day politicians dither, our economy is bleeding more and more money.
Stockpiling isn't the most common Brexit contingency action, but it's up there and it's caught the public's imagination (1/9)

The @CBI_Economics team have started to see the level of stockpiling become is so high it's coming through in surveys, not just anecdote.
Stocks of raw materials have been growing for the past 6 months, while stocks of work in progress goods and finished goods are flat (2/9)

If you dig into the figures, ofc there are firms with high stocks for non-Brexit reasons. Plant sellers where Feb-May is peak season, firms that order from China in advance of Chinese New Year to guarantee delivery, bumper grape harvests, taking advantage of shutdown deals (3/9)

But OBVIOUSLY, the overwhelming cause companies give us is Brexit.
And it's not just advanced manufacturers and big retailers anymore.
We've heard from companies stockpiling raw materials to make everything from paper to resistors, steel and aluminium for boat repairs.. (4/10)

...lighting manufacturers in Redditch and Sheffield, companies making blood testing technology for home use and companies making chairs for the NHS, even firms stockpiling metals to make calligraphy pens and raw materials to make medicines for horses and farm animals (5/10)

For some firms it’s as easy as “put it in the shed”. For others this is a MASSIVE operation involving leasing warehouses, hiring security, establishing new stock management systems, applying for loans to fund the space and staff. A good example from one firm here (6/10)

This level of work.
On this scale.
Yeah it has an impact.

If firms are spending money on this, they're not investing in growth and jobs. Some of this money - spent on shelving and packaging they may not even need - can never be recouped. It's lost, gone. Wasted. (7/10)

Just think about the scale of it.
Think about that blue bar, how it will have eaten up the orange since our survey in October.
92% of firms that had incomplete contingency plans told us they'd take further action before year end if they had no certainty. It's February 11th (8/9)

Every day MPs waste on 'is this the right time to push an amendment', 'well I prefer this imperfect option over your imperfect option and I won't compromise on principle even if it means no deal' and futile plots in Westminster backrooms means more money wasted. It has to stop.