Recession risks fade but Brexit still set to drag on growth September 12, 2016 Business activity rebounded in England and Wales last month, a new survey out today shows, confirming that the steep falls seen in the days immediately following the EU referendum have been reversed. The Lloyds regional purchasing managers index (PMI) found that business activity in every region of the UK except Scotland returned to growth in August. [...]
Alexis Tsipras attacks troika divisions for threatening Greek recovery September 11, 2016 Greek prime minister Alexis Tsipras has attacked the arguments over Greece's bailout programme between the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and European Union for stifling the country's recovery. Speaking in Thessaloniki this morning, Tsipras said: "What is creating conditions of delay in regaining trust of markets and investors … is the constant clash and disagreement between the IMF and [...]
UK public expectations for interest rate hike falls to record low level September 9, 2016 The proportion of British people expecting an interest rates rise in the next year has fallen to a record low, a Bank of England survey has shown. The poll of more than 2,000 people aged 16 and over was conducted between 8 and 9 August, shortly after the Bank cut rates to 0.25 per cent. [...]
UK’s trade deficit narrows in July as the weak pound cheers exporters September 9, 2016 A weak pound may be bad news for holiday makers – but exporters were celebrating in the aftermath of the Brexit vote, new data has suggested. In fact, tumbling sterling pushed exports up to such a degree that the UK's trade deficit narrowed by £1.1bn to £4.5bn in July, the first full month after the EU [...]
The number of jobs available in London has fallen by 20 per cent September 9, 2016 The number of London-based jobs available has fallen by 20 per cent since this time last year. According to data from recruitment consultancy Morgan McKinley, there has been a four per cent month-on-month increase in the number of jobs and a four per cent increase in London professionals seeking jobs. Morgan McKinley said this was "remarkable" given the recent Brexit vote. Read more: [...]
UK construction output wasn’t as bad as expected last month September 9, 2016 The UK's construction sector has been in pretty dire straits in recent months – but it turns out in the month immediately following the Brexit vote, things began to look up. Figures from the Office for National Statistics suggested today that construction output stayed flat between June and July – against expectations of a 0.5 per cent [...]
World Bank lays bare the $5 trillion cost of dirty air September 8, 2016 A landmark study from the World Bank has found deaths as a result of air pollution cost the world more than $5 trillion (£3.8 trillion) a year. The new report, published yesterday, highlighted the staggering economic impact of one of the world’s top killers and prompted calls for government action from economists and conservationists. The [...]
It’s pure hubris for politicians to think they can “rebalance” the economy September 8, 2016 Theresa May is reviving the idea of interventionist industrial strategy, and wants to “rebalance” the economy. Many people are jumping on the bandwagon. They should jump right off again. Even the more mature of today’s politicians were still in the school playground when these ideas last made waves. In the 1950s and 1960s, UK governments [...]
European Central Bank (ECB) chief Mario Draghi says Eurozone recovery ‘dampened’ by Brexit uncertainty September 8, 2016 Mario Draghi, chief of the European Central Bank (ECB), said today that the economic recovery in the Eurozone is likely to be dampened – partly because of the UK's Brexit vote. Euro area GDP was up by 0.3 per cent quarter-on-quarter in the second quarter and incoming data points to ongoing growth in the third [...]
ECB leaves rates unchanged and confirms it will run QE until March 2017 September 8, 2016 The European Central Bank (ECB) has left rates unchanged once again at today's meeting of the general council. The euro rallied on the news, rising 0.69 per cent against the pound to £0.84825, and up 0.44 per cent against the dollar, to $1.1288. The interest rates on the marginal lending facility and the deposit facility [...]