Why are we all saving so much? March 30, 2025 It’s a question that has been puzzling economists for months. The worst of the cost-of-living crisis is, for most households, moving further into their rear-view mirror. The Bank of England’s rate setters have successfully – if belatedly – reined in the worst of the inflation that caused so many households to tighten their belts after [...]
MPC member: Trump tariffs won’t push UK inflation higher March 27, 2025 Interest rate-setter Swati Dhingra has suggested that President Donald Trump’s tariffs are unlikely to move UK inflation measures despite taking a toll on growth. The Bank of England held its interest rates at 4.5 per cent last week. External member Dhingra voted alone in favour of a cut in an 8-1 decision. Speaking at [...]
Arbuthnot shares dip as falling interest rates weigh on profit March 27, 2025 Arbuthnot Banking Group faced the sting of easing interest rates in its annual results report as profit at the historic lender tumbled. The AIM-listed bank recorded £35.1m in profit before tax in its full-year results, a drop of over £10m from the £47.1m booked in 2023. Shares at the lender were down as much as [...]
Andrew Bailey: Strong trade and AI will be key to UK growth March 24, 2025 Andrew Bailey, the Governor of the Bank of England, has said that strong trade will be essential to UK growth in the coming years. The Bank of England last week held interest rates at 4.5 per cent, citing a possible global trade war as a risk to the economy. In a speech delivered at the [...]
Chancellor defends budget choices ahead of Spring statement March 23, 2025 Chancellor Rachel Reeves has defended the government’s recent budget decisions, claiming they were necessary for economic stability amid uncertain global conditions. In an interview with BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg on Sunday, Reeves emphasised the importance of making difficult choices to ensure long term fiscal responsibility. “There are always going to be costs for every choice you [...]
Walls close in for Rachel Reeves as borrowing shoots up March 21, 2025 Chancellor Rachel Reeves’s headroom is shrinking as government borrowing in February exceeded the Office for Budget Responsibility’s (OBR) prediction, new data showed. Reeves has insisted that financial prudence is key to the government’s economic agenda. But the latest data released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) suggests she has less headroom than expected. The [...]
UK wage growth remains hot as Bank of England set to decide on interest rates March 20, 2025 Wage growth has continued to soar, new figures have revealed. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said that annual regular pay, excluding bonuses, grew 5.9 per cent between November 2024 and January 2025. Total pay growth, which includes bonuses, increased by 5.8 per cent. “Overall pay growth remains relatively strong, with pay growth high in [...]
Bank of England expected to hold rates as inflation persists March 17, 2025 The Bank of England is widely expected to hold interest rates steady at 4.5 per cent this week as wage growth and inflation data remains sticky. Most analysts are expecting a seven to two vote in favour of a hold from the Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee, with external members Swati Dhingra and Catherine Mann voting [...]
GDP shrinks in January as UK economy prepares for upcoming tax hikes March 14, 2025 The UK economy underperformed expectations in January. According to the latest set of gross domestic product (GDP) figures published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the economy shrank by 0.1 per cent in January as output was dragged down by a sharp drop in output in the production sector. Over the three months to [...]
Ex-Bank of England governor Mark Carney named next Canadian PM March 10, 2025 Former Bank of England governor Mark Carney has been named the next Canadian prime minister after winning his party leadership vote in a landslide. Carney won 85.9 per cent of the vote in the Liberal Party leadership contest and will succeed Justin Trudeau, who has been in office for nine years. He served as the [...]