EU top body lifts economic growth forecast saying Europe dodged dreaded recession May 15, 2023 The European Union’s executive body has raised its economic growth forecast, saying Europe has dodged a winter recession that was feared amid an energy crisis. The outlook for the 20 countries using the euro currency improved to growth of 1.1 per cent this year from 0.9 per cent in the previous predictions in February, the [...]
UK on track to dodge recession as economy grows 0.1 per cent in first quarter May 12, 2023 Britain is on course to officially dodge a technical recession in the first half of this year, demonstrating the big turnaround in the country’s economic fortunes in just a handful of months, figures out today show. Gross domestic product (GDP) – which measures all goods and services made in an economy – edged 0.1 per [...]
Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey rebuffs Huw Pill’s ‘accept you’re worse off’ comment May 11, 2023 The Governor of the Bank of England has suggested that the Bank’s most senior economist chose the wrong words when saying that people and businesses should accept they are poorer now because of inflation. Andrew Bailey said that there had been a hit to national income, and did not appear to criticise the substance of [...]
Bank of England hikes interest rates for twelfth time in a row and warns of ‘significant’ inflation risk May 11, 2023 The Bank of England today hiked interest for the twelfth time in a row and to their highest level since October 2008, but warned inflation will stay higher for longer than it previously thought. The monetary policy committee (MPC) – the nine-member group tasked with setting interest rates in the UK – voted 7-2 in [...]
Bank of England ditches any threat of recession in biggest GDP upgrade since 1997 independence May 11, 2023 Any threat of a recession in Britain this year and over the medium term has today been scrapped by the Bank of England in what was the largest upgrade to the central bank’s GDP projections since it was made independent in 1997. The UK economy is now tipped to broadly flatline this year and start [...]
Experts blame France pipping UK to EU investment crown for second straight year on Brexit May 11, 2023 Experts have today partially blamed post-Brexit uncertainty for helping France pip the UK to Europe’s investment hub crown for the second year in a row. The UK was home to 15.6 per cent, or 929, of all European foreign direct investment (FDI) projects last year, down from 16.9 per cent in 2021, according to consultancy [...]
Bank of England to usher in new era of higher interest rates after sending them to near 15-year high today May 11, 2023 The Bank of England will rip up the monetary policy order of the last decade and keep interest rates far above their post-financial crisis rock bottom levels over the coming years, new forecasts out today claim. UK borrowing costs are on course to top four per cent for the whole of this year and next [...]
FTSE 100 close: ASOS shares nosedive 22 per cent after posting dim results May 10, 2023 London’s FTSE 100 slipped in the City today as online fashion retailer ASOS was pummelled after a dim set of results. The capital’s premier index shed 0.29 per cent to close at 7,741.32 points, while the domestically-focused mid-cap FTSE 250 index, which is more aligned with the health of the UK economy, lost 0.15 per [...]
US inflation falls faster than expected to 4.9 per cent, raising chances of Fed rate hike pause May 10, 2023 US inflation fell faster than expected last month, potentially paving the way for the Federal Reserve to pause its aggressive interest rate hike campaign at its meeting next month, official figures unveiled today unveiled. The rate of price increases in the world’s largest economy slipped to 4.9 per cent in April, down from five per [...]
UK businesses turn to temp staff amid recession worries May 10, 2023 UK businesses are turning to part-time staff to avoid locking into long-term contracts for fear of being dragged down by the economic slump, a new survey out today shows. Demand for temporary staff is running much higher than for full-time workers, according to consultancy KPMG and the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC). The pair’s permanent [...]