UK Economics Focus Pay rises to remain subdued in January pay-round While there have so far been few signs of any second-round effects on wages growth from last year’s rise in headline inflation, the MPC has signalled that there is one crucial hurdle yet to clear... 9th January 2006 · 1 min read
UK Economics Focus Ten steps to a weakening labour market For some time we have warned that unemployment is likely to rise as economic growth weakens. Indeed, claimant count unemployment has already risen for the last four months in a row. But this far from... 28th June 2005 · 1 min read
UK Economics Focus Ten steps to a weakening labour market For some time we have warned that unemployment is likely to rise as economic growth weakens. Indeed, claimant count unemployment has already risen for the last four months in a row. But this far from... 28th June 2005 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Focus The implications of record German unemployment German unemployment reached a post-war high in January of over five million. In this Focus we examine the statistics in more detail and assess whether the labour market reforms currently being... 18th February 2005 · 1 min read
UK Economics Focus Average earnings growth no barrier to lower interest rates Average earnings growth has recently started to edge dangerously close to the 4.5% threshold which the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has previously stated is the maximum consistent with meeting its... 12th January 2005 · 1 min read
UK Economics Focus Unemployment might not live down to expectations At the heart of the consensus view that the housing market and the economy as a whole will see a relatively soft landing over the next year or two is the assumption that unemployment will remain at... 15th December 2004 · 1 min read
UK Economics Focus Labour market not as tight as it looks? Today’s labour market data revealed a further drop in unemployment, with the claimant count rate, already at a 29 year low, edging down further to just 2.7% in June. As such, concerns are building... 14th July 2004 · 1 min read
UK Economics Focus Trend towards self employment to keep a lid on wages growth Wages growth has remained remarkably subdued in recent months, with last month’s data showing annual average earnings growth of just 3.2%. But with the labour market data also showing employment... 3rd February 2004 · 1 min read
UK Economics Focus Average earnings growth to accelerate...modestly The growth of average earnings is likely to pick up over the next two years. We see it accelerating from an average of 3.4% this year to 4% in 2004 and 4.5% in 2005 due to a number of special factors. 11th November 2003 · 1 min read
UK Economic Outlook The economic consequences of EU enlargement (Q4 03) In May next year, eight Central and Eastern European Countries together with Cyprus and Malta will join the European Union, increasing membership from 15 to 25 states. How this enlargement works will... 27th September 2003 · 1 min read
