Ben Broadbent: The weak pound and higher import prices will dampen wage growth – but the Bank of England can fix it November 18, 2016 UK workers' wages are at risk as a result of weaker sterling, the Bank of England's deputy governor warned today. In a speech at the Society of Business Economists' annual conference, Ben Broadbent said the pound's fall against the dollar and the euro meant UK consumers face a long period of higher import prices. Without a [...]
Editor’s notes: Whatever your view of him, Farage should sit in the House of Lords November 18, 2016 There are many ways to get a peerage these days. You could conduct a white-wash inquiry into the Labour party’s problem with emboldened anti-semites; you could bounce from quango to quango until a seat on the red benches is the next logical step; you could donate to a political party; or you could have the [...]
Let’s leverage Britain’s heritage as a great trading nation to lead the world in free trade again November 17, 2016 Britain has a trading legacy that few countries can rival, for hundreds of years sitting at the heart of global maritime trade, with our ports serving as a marketplace for the world. To many, this is just a legacy, alongside other traditional British hallmarks such as bowler hats and red phone boxes. But the truth [...]
Defiant Janet Yellen confirms she will stay until 2018 and defends Dodd-Frank while saying interest rate rise will come “relatively soon” November 17, 2016 Janet Yellen today confirmed she will serve her full term until 2018 as chair of the Federal Reserve, while readying markets for an interest rate rise to come "relatively soon". In testimony to the Joint Economic Committee in Washington, Yellen also strongly defended the US Dodd-Frank Act, which President-elect Donald Trump has repeatedly promised to repeal. On the [...]
Petrol pumps US inflation slightly higher in October November 17, 2016 US inflation increased slightly in October to reach 1.6 per cent year on year, continuing a steady upward trend in the second half of the year. Inflation increased by 0.1 per cent, with petrol prices and housing making the largest contributions. The overall energy sector increased 3.5 per cent, its largest increase since February 2013, [...]
The Federal Reserve’s Janet Yellen will discuss Trump for the first time today as investors look for clues of multiple interest rate rises November 17, 2016 US Federal Reserve chair Janet Yellen will today speak publicly for the first time since the shock election of Donald Trump as President, as investors predict a December interest rate rise. Investors will be listening closely to her testimony to the Joint Economic Committee (UK 3pm/10am EST) for further clues to a widely expected interest [...]
Cafe culture nudges Eurozone inflation higher in October November 17, 2016 Eurozone annual inflation rose to 0.5 per cent in October, driven by contributions from spending in restaurants and cafes. Up by 0.1 per cent compared with September, six of the member states recorded annual rates below zero – better known as deflation. Inflation rose in 21 EU states, which was enough to raise inflation across the region [...]
Mortgage lending falls more than £1bn in October November 17, 2016 Mortgage lending in the UK dipped by £1.2bn in October compared with the previous year, according to data from the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML). But despite the five per cent year-on-year decline, the figures were slightly above the trend for the last six months, in which mortgage lending averaged £20.1bn. They held on to post [...]
The Brexit bill? Chancellor Philip Hammond expected to announce £100bn black hole in Autumn Statement November 17, 2016 Chancellor Philip Hammond is expected to reveal a £100bn black hole in government finances in next week’s Autumn Statement. The estimated figure, built up cumulatively over the next five years, has been linked to the UK’s Brexit vote, because of the deterioration in forecasts since March. Read more: Public borrowing could overrun by £100bn over [...]
Brexit looks like a footnote compared to Trump win, says Barclays boss Jes Staley November 16, 2016 The impact of June's Brexit vote is overshadowed by Donald Trump's recent triumph in the US race for the White House, the boss of Barclays said today. Trump's surprise victory last week did little to rock the markets in the immediate aftermath, but the new president-elect is still yet to flesh out the details of his policies. [...]