UK Economics Update UK election ushers in the Great Squeeze Tomorrow’s general election will mark the beginning of a new and difficult phase for the UK economy. Get ready for the Great Squeeze. 5th May 2010 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update Monetary Indicators Monitor (Apr.) There are finally tentative signs that the Bank of England’s programme of quantitative easing (QE) is boosting the broad money supply. However, bank lending, particularly to businesses, remains weak. 4th May 2010 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update Macroprudential toolkit could help interest rates stay low While all main parties look set to leave the current inflation-targeting regime in place, all seem agreed on the need for some form of so-called “macroprudential” toolkit. New tools to control asset... 29th April 2010 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update Greek woes underline need for clear fiscal plan The rapid escalation of the Greek fiscal crisis has prompted inevitable questions over whether the UK faces similar dangers. So far, UK markets are probably right to have been sanguine. But that might... 29th April 2010 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update Could a strong pound be a post-election headache? Analysis of the likely behaviour and influence of the exchange rate after the election has tended to focus on the possibility of a further sharp depreciation in the event of a hung parliament. But... 28th April 2010 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update Public sector job cuts could yet take unemployment to 3m The argument over whether Labour’s National Insurance rise or the Conservatives’ efficiency savings will cost more jobs detracts from the bigger picture that the required fiscal squeeze will result in... 28th April 2010 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update Public sector job cuts could yet take unemployment to 3m The argument over whether Labour’s National Insurance rise or the Conservatives’ efficiency savings will cost more jobs detracts from the bigger picture that the required fiscal squeeze will result in... 28th April 2010 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update Are hung parliament fears easing? There are some signs that markets are becoming rather less fearful of the prospect of a hung parliament after the election on May 6th. 22nd April 2010 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update Hot ash won’t cool the UK’s recovery Estimates of the financial cost to the UK airline industry of the eruption of the Eyjafjallajökull volcano in Iceland are mounting. But we doubt that the economic cost of the eruption will have a... 19th April 2010 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update Hot ash won’t cool the UK’s recovery Estimates of the financial cost to the UK airline industry of the eruption of the Eyjafjallajökull volcano in Iceland are mounting. But we doubt that the economic cost of the eruption will have a... 19th April 2010 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update MPC waits for news on fiscal squeeze Estimates of the financial cost to the UK airline industry of the eruption of the Eyjafjallajökull volcano in Iceland are mounting. But we doubt that the economic cost of the eruption will have a... 8th April 2010 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update Upbeat economic news may not do the job for Mr Brown The news on the UK economy in the approach to the general election now looks likely to be reasonably upbeat. But the key question is whether voters will translate that better news into greater... 7th April 2010 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update Upbeat economic news may not do the job for Mr Brown The news on the UK economy in the approach to the general election now looks likely to be reasonably upbeat. But the key question is whether voters will translate that better news into greater... 7th April 2010 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update Conservatives jump on the waste wagon The Conservatives’ pledge to use efficiency savings to avoid the Government’s planned increases in national insurance in 2011 leaves both parties’ fiscal plans highly dependent on uncertain reductions... 30th March 2010 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update Monetary Indicators Monitor (Mar.) More than a year after the Bank of England began its quantitative easing programme, broad money and bank lending are still struggling to rise. The latest worrying development is a renewed drop in net... 29th March 2010 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update Budget 2010 – Stamp duty measures ignore the real issues While there can be little doubt that they will be popular among aspiring first-time buyers, it is fairly clear that the Chancellor’s stamp duty measures do nothing to resolve the real problems facing... 24th March 2010 · 1 min read
