Bank of England policymaker: UK economy in worst slump ‘in centuries’ April 23, 2020 The UK economy is experiencing the fastest and deepest contraction in “the past century or possibly several centuries” during the coronavirus lockdown, a Bank of England rate-setter has said. However, Bank monetary policy committee (MPC) member Gertjan Vlieghe, also said that “in principle” the economy “should return approximately to the pre-virus trajectory” if it is [...]
UK to raise £225bn from bond sales to fund coronavirus measures April 23, 2020 The UK government is planning a huge increase in bond sales to fund its economic response to the coronavirus, selling roughly four times as much debt over the next three months than originally planned in the March Budget. The Treasury said it will try to raise £180bn from investors in the bond markets over the [...]
UK economy suffers unprecedented slump amid coronavirus lockdown April 23, 2020 The UK economy suffered an unprecedented blow in April as the coronavirus lockdown choked off demand, according to a closely watched gauge which slumped to its lowest level since records began. The IHS Markit/Cips composite purchasing managers’ index (PMI) crashed to a reading of 12.9 in April. This was the worst score since the survey [...]
UK borrowing higher than expected before coronavirus lockdown April 23, 2020 The UK went over its borrowing target for the most recent financial year, it revealed today, but coronavirus spending is set to dwarf its budget deficit. Borrowing between April 2019 and March 2020 rose to £48.7bn, compared to forecasts of £47.4bn, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). But a swathe of public spending [...]
Eurozone output and employment suffer record falls in April April 23, 2020 The Eurozone economy suffered the biggest falls in employment and activity on record in April as governments across the continent all but shut down their countries in response to the spread of coronavirus. The IHS Markit composite purchasing managers’ index (PMI) – a closely watched gauge of activity – collapsed to 13.5, the lowest score [...]
Eurozone consumer confidence hits lows last seen in financial crisis April 22, 2020 European consumer confidence tumbled this month towards the record lows seen during the financial crisis in 2009 as the continent braces itself for a deep recession caused by coronavirus lockdowns. The European Commission (EC) today said its gauge of consumer confidence for the Eurozone fell to minus 22.7 points, down from minus 11.6 in March. [...]
Fuel prices knock UK inflation rate down to 1.5 per cent in March April 22, 2020 The UK inflation rate fell 0.2 per cent in March to 1.5 per cent, as coronavirus restrictions hit fuel prices. A drop in the price of fuel and clothing resulted in the largest downward contribution to the change in the UK inflation rate between February and March. The rate marks eight consecutive months below the [...]
Global bosses predict U-shaped coronavirus recovery April 22, 2020 Global business leaders have predicted economies will fail to post a quick recovery bounce back quickly from the coronavirus crash. Many CEOs worry their firms could cease trading altogether, according to a new survey. Roughly 60 per cent of bosses surveyed by business network YPO said they expect a ‘U-shaped’ coronavirus recovery that features a [...]
Bank governor Andrew Bailey warns against lifting coronavirus measures too quickly April 22, 2020 Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey has warned against lifting coronavirus lockdown measures too quickly and putting people’s safety at risk in a bid to boost the economy. Bailey added that a “false start”, when lockdown measures had to be reinstated, “would damage people’s confidence very severely”. The governor’s intervention come amid a heated debate [...]
US home sales slump in March as coronavirus bites April 21, 2020 US home sales tumbled at the fastest rate in over four years in March, figures have shown, as coronavirus containment measures choked off buyer demand in one of the biggest markets in the world. Existing home sales slumped 8.5 per cent in March to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.27m units, the National Association [...]