UK Economics Update MPC takes a bold step into the unknown Today’s launch of quantitative easing (QE) marked a further significant step in the policymakers’ attempts to prevent the deep recession in the UK economy from turning into something closer to a... 5th March 2009 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update Should the MPC have targets for QE? The uncertainties surrounding the likely quantity and effectiveness of Quantitative Easing (QE) in the UK have led to some suggestions that the Monetary Policy Committee should be set (or set itself)... 4th March 2009 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update Just how much QE is enough? With the launch of quantitative easing (QE) apparently imminent, speculation is growing over just how much needs to be done to have a material impact on the economy. While the answer is very uncertain... 3rd March 2009 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update Lending commitments may not be big enough The next stage of the Government’s support for the banking system got underway today, with the release of further details on the Government’s guarantee of bank losses on toxic assets. However, this... 26th February 2009 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update Who will suffer the most from the recession? The effects of the recession on households will not be evenly felt – but, contrary to popular belief, pensioners and savers are likely to do better than many. Households who ploughed money into assets... 25th February 2009 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update Who will suffer the most from the recession? The effects of the recession on households will not be evenly felt – but, contrary to popular belief, pensioners and savers are likely to do better than many. Households who ploughed money into assets... 25th February 2009 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update Northern Rock won’t transform the mortgage market overnight Although welcome, the resumption of lending by Northern Rock will not transform the mortgage market outlook overnight. However, it is also a sign that the Government is increasingly willing to... 23rd February 2009 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update Northern Rock won’t transform the mortgage market overnight Although welcome, the resumption of lending by Northern Rock will not transform the mortgage market outlook overnight. However, it is also a sign that the Government is increasingly willing to... 23rd February 2009 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update UK banks: filling the gap Overseas lenders are reducing their lending to UK firms. Meanwhile, the nationalisation of Northern Rock and Bradford and Bingley means that the supply of credit in the mortgage market has also been... 19th February 2009 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update Youth unemployment to hit retail sales and housing market The young have been disproportionately affected by the recent rise in unemployment. Whilst this may dampen the link between unemployment and debt defaults, it is likely to make the consumer spending... 17th February 2009 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update Youth unemployment to hit retail sales and housing market The young have been disproportionately affected by the recent rise in unemployment. Whilst this may dampen the link between unemployment and debt defaults, it is likely to make the consumer spending... 17th February 2009 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update QE will not eradicate deflation dangers The uncertainties over the likely effectiveness of unconventional monetary policy measures and the potentially negative effect on inflation expectations suggest that the imminent adoption of... 12th February 2009 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update Mass destruction of household wealth to hit spending Recent suggestions that a recovery in real income growth as inflation drops will prevent a major downturn in household spending would seem to overlook the damaging impact of the recent sharp falls in... 10th February 2009 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update Real economy won't escape the bank lending slowdown It has been suggested that UK banks can deleverage by scaling back their lending to financial institutions, leaving lending to UK households and firms largely unaffected. However, that does not mean... 9th February 2009 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update House price falls to exceed 35% The Nationwide and Halifax indices show that house prices are now almost 20% below their peak, meaning that there is still some way to go before our forecast of a 35% peak-to-trough fall is delivered... 6th February 2009 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update House price falls to exceed 35% The Nationwide and Halifax indices show that house prices are now almost 20% below their peak, meaning that there is still some way to go before our forecast of a 35% peak-to-trough fall is delivered... 6th February 2009 · 1 min read
