Different challenges set to confront investors in 2024 The newly-released UK Commercial Cross Sector Outlook for 2024 from Savills has provided insight for the year ahead. Expectations from Mat Oakley, Director of Commercial Research, suggest that the factors impacting property values and confidence are set to improve this year, but as high inflation and […]
Author archives: charlie
News in Review
“The longer-term picture remains one of an economy that has shown little growth over the last year” New data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has revealed that UK GDP is estimated to have grown by 0.3% in November 2023, this follows a fall of 0.3% in the previous month, and just exceeds a […]
News in Review
“The traditional retailers always tend to do well in the run up to Christmas and this year was no exception” There was good news for supermarkets last week, as new data from market research firm Kantar showed they experienced their busiest Christmas in four years. During the four-week period to Christmas Eve, Britons made 488 […]
Looking ahead – the housing and mortgage markets in 2024
Falling house prices and turbulent mortgage rates made 2023 an unpredictable year for homeowners and movers. As the bells ring out for the start of 2024, is a calmer year on the cards? Three key questions dominate analysts’ minds it seems. First, do house prices have further to fall? Second, will mortgage rates go lower? […]
Preparing your portfolio for resilience in 2024
The past few years have been challenging for investors with a series of unforeseen events and rising geopolitical tensions weighing heavily on global markets and, as a new year dawns, many issues remain unresolved. However, while such times are disconcerting for investors, the best way to achieve financial empowerment is by sticking to a sound […]
Getting the economy “back on track”
With the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) predicting modest UK economic growth of 0.7% this year and 1.4% in 2025, during the Autumn Statement Chancellor Jeremy Hunt outlined 110 growth measures intended to get more people into work, cut business taxes and raise business investment, to get the economy “back on track.” Contrary to speculation, […]
News in Review
“With inflation more than halved we are starting to remove inflationary pressures from the economy” Latest inflation data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed that the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) reduced to 3.9% in the year to November 2023, down from 4.6% recorded in the previous month. Now at a two-year low, the […]
Economic Review – December 2023
Inflation drop sparks rate cut speculation A surprise sharp decline in the rate of inflation has ignited hopes of an interest rate cut by spring, despite the Bank of England (BoE) insisting it is ‘too early’ to speculate about when rates might be reduced. Following its latest meeting, which concluded on 13 December, the BoE’s […]
Residential Property Review – December 2023
Sellers knock £18,000 off asking prices Sellers accepted an average discount of £18,000 on their property sale in November 2023 – the highest average price cut in five years. This is according to property portal Zoopla, which stated that high mortgage rates are continuing to impact housing affordability for buyers – meaning that sellers are […]
Commercial Property Review – December 2023
‘Grey’ warehouse space on the rise According to recent analysis by Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL), real estate and investment management services provider, ‘grey’ warehouse space is increasing. Classified as available space unofficially marketed for either sublease or assignment, grey warehouse space has historically been limited to smaller pallet storage space, less frequently associated with warehouses […]