When will the UK economy recover from coronavirus? May 15, 2020 The UK economy is set for its worst contraction since at least the Great Depression this year as the coronavirus lockdown brings activity to a halt. There’s little doubt about that. There is doubt about what comes next, however. Economists have made huge numbers of predictions, using an array of letters to describe the recovery. [...]
Bank of England ‘not contemplating’ negative interest rates, says governor Andrew Bailey May 14, 2020 Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey has said Threadneedle Street is not considering cutting interest rates to below zero. The governor said that it would be unwise to rule anything out, “particularly in these circumstances,” in an online question and answer session with the Financial Times. Yet he said: “It is not something we are [...]
Three quarters of UK businesses apply for furlough scheme May 14, 2020 More than three quarters of UK businesses have applied for the government’s job retention scheme, according to an official survey that laid bare the extent to which the furlough programme is supporting the economy. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said 76 per cent of UK firms had applied for the scheme, up from 66 [...]
House price decline hurts Just Group’s solvency ratio May 14, 2020 Specialist pension provider Just Group posted a drop in its solvency ratio today after interest rates plunged around the world over the economic fallout of coronavirus. The insurer told investors its Solvency II coverage ratio has dropped three points to 138 per cent at the end of April 2020. European Solvency II rules stipulate how [...]
Square Mile lockdown: City firms plot staff’s return to work May 14, 2020 City banks and professional services firms are drawing up plans to send staff back to the office as the UK begins to ease its coronavirus lockdown. Earlier this week Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that people who can work from home should continue to do so, as he laid out guidance to make workplaces “Covid-secure”. [...]
Uber installing in-car partitions to help stop coronavirus spread May 14, 2020 Uber said today it was piloting the installation of screens in 400 cars to help stop the spread of coronavirus. Uber is working with AA to install the partitions in 400 cars in Newcastle, Sunderland and Durham. It is also working with Unilever to distribute hygiene kits to Uber drivers in the UK. Uber said [...]
Rishi Sunak: UK set for ‘significant recession’ May 13, 2020 Chancellor Rishi Sunak has said the UK will be plunged into a “significant recession” in the wake of figures showing the economy contracted in the first quarter. It was the first time during the crisis that Sunak has admitted a recession is on its way, telling The Telegraph that “we’re at a time of unprecedented [...]
UK GDP shrinks: Economists warn worst yet to come as lockdown persists May 13, 2020 The UK economy shrank by a record 5.8 per cent in March, thanks almost entirely to just over a week of coronavirus lockdown that began on the 23rd. In the first quarter as a whole GDP contracted by two per cent, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said today. This was its worst performance since [...]
Coronavirus: UK economy shrinks two per cent in first quarter of 2020 May 13, 2020 The UK economy shrank by two per cent in the first three months of 2020 due to the impact of coronavirus, official GDP data showed today. The slump showed the UK economy’s contracted at its fastest rate since the height of the financial crisis in 2008. The lockdown, which started on 23 March, saw the [...]
UK coronavirus death toll rises by 627 May 12, 2020 The UK’s official death toll has hit 32,692 after a further 627 deaths were recorded, though new analysis showed the true figure may be much higher. The latest numbers mark a sharp increase from yesterday, when 210 new deaths were reported. However, this is likely to be caused by a lag in reporting over the [...]