Are we heading for a global recession? June 29, 2022 Keith Wade, Chief Economist, discusses what central bankers’ next move might be, what markets are pricing in and what the probability of a recession is. People are worrying about a global recession and with good reason. But what if the factors driving rising prices are beyond the limits of policymakers’ control? The squeeze on living [...]
PwC to give 11,000 workers their biggest pay rise in a decade June 26, 2022 PwC is set to give around half of its UK workforce their biggest pay rise in a decade, in hiking around 11,000 of its workers base salaries. The accountancy firm is set to give a nine per cent pay rise to around half of its more than 22,000 staff – at a cost to [...]
Week ahead: City eyes housing stats and BoE governor Bailey remarks June 26, 2022 The UK’s red hot housing market is set to revert to more normal territory driven by the cost of living crunch chilling demand for homes, fresh data released this week that will be closely watched by the City. London’s premier FTSE 100 index has rebounded after suffering bruising losses of late caused by investors around [...]
Cocktail of problems plunge UK consumer confidence to record low June 24, 2022 A relentless cost of living crunch, the prospect of a recession and stagnant wage growth has driven British pessimism to new highs, reveals a closely watched survey published today. UK consumer confidence dropped to minus 41 points this month, down marginally from minus 40 in May, the lowest reading recorded by research firm GfK since [...]
US Fed chief Powell warns higher rates may tip economy into recession June 22, 2022 The chief of the US Federal Reserve has warned it may hike interest rates to a level that tips the economy into a recession. “It’s certainly a possibility” that a rapid tightening of monetary policy will force the US economy into reverse, Fed chair Jerome Powell said today in response to a grilling by American [...]
Sunak: BoE will ‘act forcefully’ on inflation and govt will ‘be responsible with borrowing and debt’ June 22, 2022 Rishi Sunak sought to reassure people following a 40-year high in UK inflation to 9.1 per cent, insisting the Bank of England will “act forcefully” to counter the rise. The BoE, which is independent of government, has been criticised for not being quick and decisive enough about rising costs of living, with members of the [...]
Inflation jumps to 9.1 per cent: Worried City insiders respond to consumer prices climbing again June 22, 2022 The rate of inflation rose again in May, remaining at 40-year highs, the Office for National Statistics said this morning. The rate of Consumer Prices Index inflation rose slightly to 9.1 per cent in May from 9 per cent in April, according to the ONS. The increase matches what analysts had expected. “Though still at [...]
Government admits most Brits will not benefit from Boris Johnson’s ‘benefits to bricks’ housing plans June 22, 2022 Most Brits will not be able to make use of Boris Johnson’s “benefits to bricks” scheme to allow welfare payments to secure mortgages, the government has admitted. Earlier this month, the Prime Minister announced a plan to enable people who are in work but also on housing benefit to use welfare payments towards a mortgage, [...]
Housebuilders tank on stock market with investors ‘nervous’ about mortgage rates June 20, 2022 Housebuilders lead the London Stock Exchange’s top fallers today, after the latest house price data cautioned the tightening of purse strings amid a cost of living crisis. Barratt Developments and Berkeley Group led the descent, falling a little over four per cent each. While Persimmon dove 3.7 per cent, Ashtead slipped 2.8 per cent and [...]
Bank of England drops mortgage market affordability test after less than a decade June 20, 2022 The Bank of England said this morning that its Financial Policy Committee will withdraw the so-called mortgage market affordability test. “Following its latest review of the mortgage market, the Financial Policy Committee has confirmed that it will withdraw its affordability test Recommendation,” the BoE said in a statement. This will come into effect from 1 [...]