Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey warns of uncertainty over inflation drop May 17, 2023 The risk of inflation staying higher for longer than the Bank of England’s two per cent target than it expects is mounting due to the slow reduction of wage pressures and price rises, the Governor of the central bank warned today. Speaking at the British Chambers of Commerce’s (BCC) annual conference, Andrew Bailey warned the [...]
All Bar One owner still feeling the pinch from inflation May 17, 2023 Mitchells and Butlers, the UK’s largest listed pub group, saw a drop in profits this morning, but said that its cost outlook was improving amid ongoing inflationary pressure. The All Bar One and Toby Carvery owner made £100m in adjusted operating profit for the half year ending on April 8, down from £120m a year [...]
Brexit is ‘threat’ to UK car factories says parent firm of Vauxhall, Citroen, Peugeot and Fiat May 17, 2023 One of the world’s largest carmakers has said it will be unable to keep their commitment to make electric vehicles in the UK without changes to the Brexit deal. Stellantis – the parent company of Vauxhall, Citroen, Peugeot and Fiat – which employs more than 5,000 people in the UK – told a Commons inquiry [...]
Marston’s pubs: No change in Brits’ appetite for a night out May 16, 2023 Marston’s recorded a near 11 per cent rise in sales in the first half on the back of its strong drinks sales, a trend that has continued over the past few weeks. Marston’s said the continued strength of drink sales demonstrated the resilience of its community pub estate in spite of the economic environment. In [...]
UK isn’t alone in this recession merry-go-round – just look at Europe May 16, 2023 It’s worth remembering that Britain isn’t some sort of pariah in the rich world that’s undergoing a tough economic slump, which is threatening to extend the growth slow down since the 2008 financial crisis. Europe’s major economies, led by Germany, its powerhouse, are also in the teeth of a slump. Numbers out last week revealed [...]
‘Greedflation’ not to blame for UK price surge, former rate setter claims May 15, 2023 “Greedflation” is not to blame for prices surging in the UK and instead businesses are pushing up prices in response to soaring costs, a former Bank of England rate-setter claimed today. Michael Saunders, an ex-member of the monetary policy committee – the nine strong group that sets interest rates in Britain – and now senior [...]
EU top body lifts economic growth forecast saying Europe dodged dreaded recession May 15, 2023 The European Union’s executive body has raised its economic growth forecast, saying Europe has dodged a winter recession that was feared amid an energy crisis. The outlook for the 20 countries using the euro currency improved to growth of 1.1 per cent this year from 0.9 per cent in the previous predictions in February, the [...]
UK on track to dodge recession as economy grows 0.1 per cent in first quarter May 12, 2023 Britain is on course to officially dodge a technical recession in the first half of this year, demonstrating the big turnaround in the country’s economic fortunes in just a handful of months, figures out today show. Gross domestic product (GDP) – which measures all goods and services made in an economy – edged 0.1 per [...]
Hospitality: BoE interest rates hike could ‘significantly impact businesses’ May 11, 2023 The hospitality sector has expressed concerns that the Bank of England’s decision to raise interest rates could “significantly impact business viability,” as the interest rates on loans many pubs and restaurants took out to survive the pandemic are now set to rise. “Hospitality was the business sector most affected by the pandemic, with a large [...]
Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey rebuffs Huw Pill’s ‘accept you’re worse off’ comment May 11, 2023 The Governor of the Bank of England has suggested that the Bank’s most senior economist chose the wrong words when saying that people and businesses should accept they are poorer now because of inflation. Andrew Bailey said that there had been a hit to national income, and did not appear to criticise the substance of [...]