OBR chief says higher tax is ‘not good’ for growth – or the government July 15, 2025 Chancellor Rachel Reeves risks harming the UK economy’s potential to grow by inflicting extra tax hikes on Brits, the fiscal watchdog has warned, adding that the government risks losing out on returns in the longer run. Rachel Reeves looks poised to raise taxes at this year’s Autumn Budget as leading City analysts believe the higher [...]
Bank of England looks for jobs data revisions ahead of rate decision July 15, 2025 The Bank of England will be looking out for any revisions to the number of people pushed out of work on Thursday when the Office for National Statistics (ONS) publishes fresh jobs data, with an interest rate decision set to hinge on the extent of the deterioration in the labour market. Last month, the official [...]
Sajid Javid joins calls to replace ‘unfit’ NHS with insurance model July 14, 2025 Former health secretary Sajid Javid has joined calls for a major overhaul of the National Health Service (NHS) that would see it replaced by a universal social insurance-based model. Javid said a “serious conversation with taxpayers” about how to fund the institution was “long overdue,” throwing his weight behind a paper by Policy Exchange which [...]
Get ready for £30bn tax raid, City analysts warn July 5, 2025 Top City economists have warned welfare U-turns and President Trump’s damage to growth prospects will lead to tax hikes worth £30bn this autumn. Chancellor Rachel Reeves suggested last year’s £40bn tax raid on businesses, homeowners and investors was a “once in a parliament reset” while Keir Starmer has suggested the UK could not “tax [its] [...]
When words matter more than numbers at the Bank of England May 5, 2025 City analysts have pencilled in their predictions for Thursday. Here’s how almost all of them likely read. Interest rates will be cut to 4.25 per cent, the Bank of England’s inflation forecast for this year will exceed its two per cent target and President Trump’s tariffs will be highlighted as a detriment to UK growth. [...]
ECB cuts interest rates as Trump’s tariffs bring ‘exceptional uncertainty’ April 17, 2025 The European Central Bank (ECB) cut interest rates by a quarter point in what was the first decision from a major central bank since President Donald Trump announced sweeping tariffs in a historic speech earlier this month. The all-out global trade war, which has seen the likes of China retaliate with heavy tariffs on the [...]
Interest rates to fall to 3.5 per cent City firm predicts February 27, 2025 Paul Dales, chief UK economist at the City consultancy, said it was "very unusual" for the Bank of England to cut interest rates when inflation is expected to rise further even further above target.
Reeves ‘will be forced to hold Spring Budget’ to settle gilt jitters, Abrdn predicts January 9, 2025 Chancellor Rachel Reeves will be forced to hold a spring Budget this year to rein in government spending and settle investors’ nerves, after the cost of government borrowing hit multi-decade highs this week, Abrdn has predicted. Despite ministers insisting the gilt market was functioning in an “orderly” way and no emergency measures would be taken, [...]
Make no mistake, tax rises are on the way July 23, 2024 Evidence is piling up that Chancellor Rachel Reeves will almost certainly be forced to raise taxes this autumn, Chris Dorrell writes