City split on Bank of England’s August interest rate decision July 29, 2024 City economists are split about whether the Bank of England will choose to start cutting interest rates on Thursday.
Crucial US inflation data rises slightly faster than expected as Fed ponders next rate move July 26, 2024 A crucial piece of US inflation data came in slightly hotter than expected last month as the Federal Reserve considers when to start cutting interest rates. Figures out today showed the core personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index, which is the Fed’s preferred gauge of inflation, remained stuck at 2.6 per cent in June. This [...]
Rachel Reeves set to reveal £20bn funding shortfall – but is it a surprise? July 26, 2024 Chancellor Rachel Reeves is expected to announce a roughly £20bn hole in the public finances on Monday when she reveals the results of a spending audit undertaken by Treasury officials over the past few weeks.
US GDP sails past expectations again on back of strong consumer spending July 25, 2024 The world’s largest economy breezed past economists’ expectations yet again as consumer spending picked up more than anticipated. According to new ‘flash’ figures published on Thursday, US GDP grew at an annualised rate of 2.8 per cent between April and June. Economists had expected GDP to grow 2.0 per cent. This was a substantial acceleration [...]
US confidence in UK business environment improves but concerns over tax grow July 24, 2024 US confidence in the UK's business environment increased for the first time in two years, according to a survey, but American firms were also increasingly nervous about the tax regime.
UK growth set to continue as manufacturing PMI climbs to two year high July 24, 2024 The economy’s strong performance so far in 2024 looks set to continue thanks to the continued recovery of the manufacturing sector, a closely watched survey suggests. S&P’s ‘flash’ purchasing managers’s index (PMI) came in at 52.7, up from 52.3 last month and slightly higher than the 52.6 expected by economists. The survey, which measures economic [...]
Six graphs the Bank of England will study before August interest rate decision July 24, 2024 For the first time since last September, there is genuine uncertainty about the Bank of England’s next move on interest rates. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) will meet next Thursday, with markets putting the odds of a cut at about 40 per cent. There’s enough evidence of disinflation to warrant a cut. Similarly, more hawkish [...]
Will Labour’s move to hire 300 planning officers be enough to get Britain building again? July 24, 2024 Since entering office, planning reforms have been central to the new government’s attempts to stimulate higher economic growth. Chancellor Rachel Reeves has already announced a number of important changes to the planning regime with more changes expected before the end of the month. Alongside these reforms, the government has committed to hire 300 extra planners [...]
Labour’s growth push continues with ‘fundamental’ welfare reform promised July 23, 2024 Liz Kendall, the work and pensions secretary, said that her department would become “a genuine department for work” as the new government attempts to tackle the rise in economic inactivity. “DWP has focused almost entirely on the benefits system, and specifically on implementing Universal Credit,” she said in a speech in Barnsley. “Nowhere near enough [...]
Bullish analysts think sterling’s rally will continue despite chance of interest rate cuts July 23, 2024 Sterling has been one of the strongest performing currencies this year on the back of sticky inflation and stronger than expected growth.