UK economy: Headache for Bank of England as wage growth accelerates January 21, 2025 Wage growth picked up towards the end of last year, new figures show, revealing the continued persistence of price pressures in the UK economy. According to figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), annual regular pay growth averaged 5.6 per cent in the three months to November, up from 5.2 per cent previously. [...]
UK economy: Does Labour’s economic hotchpotchism matter? January 21, 2025 Although gilt jitters have eased, the embattled Chancellor now faces a new and far more serious criticism.
Skills gap has ‘passed its peak’ but experts warn of a ‘hiring recession’ January 21, 2025 This was the first time since 2014 that the number of firms suffering from a scarcity of well-qualified candidates declined.
Donald Trump won’t impose tariffs ‘from day one’ January 20, 2025 Rather than imposing tariffs, the memo instructs officials to address unfair trade practices and remedy persistent trade deficits.
Rachel Reeves’ tax hikes pose ‘major threat’ to UK labour market resilience January 20, 2025 The government's tax hike pose a "major threat" to the health of the labour market, a leading economist has warned.
UK economy: Only three sectors report growth as Reeves’ woes deepen January 20, 2025 The number of sectors seeing higher output in December was at its lowest level since September 2023.
Pensions industry hopes mini-reshuffle could ‘revive’ auto-enrolment debate January 17, 2025 Industry figures hope that Torsten Bell's appointment as pensions minister could "revive" discussions about increasing the contribution rate for auto-enrolment pensions.
UK economy: Interest rate cut a ‘certainty’ in February after weak data January 16, 2025 Economists expect the Bank of England to back a third rate cut next month after two important pieces of economic data were published this week.
Pressure on Reeves after more sluggish growth – but it’s not all doom and gloom January 16, 2025 Rachel Reeves’ handling of the UK economy is likely to come under further scrutiny after the publication of another set of lacklustre GDP figures. The UK was the fastest growing economy in the G7 in the first half of last year. It is now on track to be stagnant in the second half, having grown [...]
Rachel Reeves – “Gilty” as charged January 16, 2025 The verdict is in. The Gilt market has found the Chancellor Rachel Reeves guilty of reckless endangerment of the country’s finances. A large electoral majority led her to think the world would happily finance what she described in her Mais Lecture as the “smart and strategic state”. Sticking to fiscal rules is for nought if [...]