UK joblessness falls to 1970s low, but pay continues to plummet September 13, 2022 UK joblessness has slid to its lowest level since 1974, but scorching inflation is still wiping out Brits’ pay, official figures published today reveal. The proportion of people out of work dropped to 3.6 per cent in the three months to July, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Despite the historic low unemployment [...]
UK economy already in throes of drawn out recession, City warns after GDP disappoints September 12, 2022 The UK economy is already in recession and Liz Truss’s energy support package is unlikely to lift it out of its slump anytime soon, City economists warned today. Weaker than expected growth figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) today prompted experts to sound the recession alarm. Gross domestic product (GDP) climbed 0.2 per [...]
London’s economy powers through August in ‘growth mode’ as UK stalls September 12, 2022 London’s economy powered through August in “growth mode” despite the UK stalling, a new survey published today reveals. High street bank NatWest’s London purchasing managers’ index (PMI) remained in positive territory in August at 54.9. However, the PMI dropped sharply from 58 in July and was the weakest reading in nearly a year and a [...]
Bank of England to send rates to four per cent after Truss energy package September 11, 2022 The Bank of England could be forced to hike interest rates to their highest level since October 2008 to offset Liz Truss’s around £150bn energy support stoking inflation, City economists have warned. Sanjay Raja, senior economist at Deutsche Bank, said borrowing costs may be hoisted to restrictive territory to tame price pressures, possibly reaching a [...]
City eyes economic data dump for clues on BoE rate hike path September 11, 2022 City traders will be looking for clues shedding light on how far the Bank of England will need to hike interest rates in this week’s economic data dump. The capital’s premier FTSE 100 index posted a decent performance last week, adding nearly one per cent to close at 7,351.07 points. Its mid-cap domestically-focused counterpart, the [...]
Economists warn UK to face blackouts under Liz Truss energy plan September 8, 2022 Economists today warned prime minister Liz Truss’s decision to freeze energy bills for everyone in the UK at £2,500 raises the risk of blackouts. Experts at the economic think tank the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) said energy supplies may run dry due to the government propping up energy spending. “Households, businesses or governments… will [...]
Liz Truss energy price freeze would peg inflation, BoE chief economist says September 7, 2022 LIZ Truss’s plan to freeze energy prices would prevent inflation from scaling to its highest level since 1980, but interest rates may have to stay higher for longer, the Bank of England’s top wonk said today. Huw Pill, the monetary authority’s chief economist, told the commons treasury committee that the new prime minister’s cost of [...]
Pound sinks to lowest level against US dollar since 1985 September 7, 2022 The pound today sunk to its lowest level against the US dollar since 1985, driven by investors sweating over the health of the UK economy and a borrowing splurge. Sterling fell to $1.1406 briefly today, marking another dismal milestone for the currency. The last time the pound fell that low was when Margaret Thatcher was [...]
Almost half of Brits stop saving and paying into pension due to short-term money problems September 7, 2022 Almost half of Brits have stopped saving, investing and paying into pensions because of short-term financial pressures. With soaring inflation, rising interest rates and an impending increase in energy bills, 46 per cent of those polled by NerdWallet say they’ve cut back on long-term money planning. Among those who are cutting back, 43 per cent [...]
Britain hurtling toward long economic slump and record living standards squeeze September 6, 2022 Britain is sinking into a long economic slump that will deal the biggest hit to household finances on record, a new report released today shows. A historic inflation surge led by sky-high energy bills is set to tip the country into a recession this year, wiping off £2,000 of Brits’ real take home pay, according [...]