Bank of England’s Bailey doubts interest rates will fall back to near zero September 24, 2024 With inflationary pressures easing, rate-setters cut rates for the first time since the pandemic in August. However, they subsequently voted 8-1 to keep rates steady last week.
Has Labour overdone the doom and gloom? September 24, 2024 Many economists and City business groups have argued that this risks damaging growth. After all, why would households spend and businesses invest in a climate of fear?
UK economy: Growth continues but budget concerns ‘jangling nerves’ September 23, 2024 PMIs, which measure business activity in the private sector, are closely watched for clues about the economy’s performance.
Labour conference: Reeves challenged over consumer ‘fear and foreboding’ September 23, 2024 Rachel Reeves has been challenged over claims the government has “generated a fear and foreboding” among consumers – but insisted she was “optimistic” about the economy. Ahead of her keynote speech to the Labour Party conference in Liverpool today, the Chancellor was challenged on Sky News over last week’s fall in consumer confidence to the [...]
The UK economy is suffering from long Covid and a short memory September 23, 2024 We may have ditched the testing swabs and face masks, but the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic is still being felt. Quite understandably, we’d rather consign that era to history, but the scale of the costs incurred makes that impossible. The official inquiry is attempting to get to grips with questions of preparedness, decision making [...]
Interest rates heading lower after historic week for central banks September 23, 2024 For many central bankers, concerns about sluggish growth and the health of the labour market are now as prominent - if not more so - than fears about inflation, paving the way for an extended period of rate cuts.
Politicians should remember: the road to economic growth passes through the City September 23, 2024 Politicians need to prioritise and capitalise on the power of financial and professional services, writes Chris Hayward
UK economy: After a busy week, the foundations look solid September 20, 2024 With inflation low and further rate cuts to come the UK economy remains on relatively solid foundations.
Bank of England’s Mann warns of ’embedded’ UK inflation risk after decision to hold September 20, 2024 "Structural behaviours in UK labour and product markets appear to have systematically embedded inflation," she said in a speech in Lithuania.
Hawkish Bank of England? Don’t be so sure. September 19, 2024 "The economy has been evolving broadly as we expected," Bailey said. "If that continues, we should be able to reduce rates gradually over time".