“Inflation is falling and stands at its lowest level since last March” Last week, official data released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed that inflation in the UK fell further than expected in June to settle at 7.9%, down from 8.7% a month earlier and its lowest point since March 2022. The ONS […]
Author archives: charlie
News in Review
“Our plan will work, but we must stick to it” Official figures released last week by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed that UK gross domestic product (GDP) contracted by 0.1% in May. Analysts pointed to the additional bank holiday for the coronation as a key factor in this decline. By falling into reverse, […]
News in Review
“British pensioners should benefit from British business success” Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced a package of reforms designed to boost pensions and increase investment in British businesses, in his first Mansion House speech which took place on Monday evening. He stated that the Mansion House Reforms aim to secure the best possible outcome for pension savers, […]
News in Review
“These measures should offer comfort to those who are anxious about high interest rates” Last week, around 85% of lenders operating in the UK’s mortgage market signed a government Mortgage Charter agreeing to support borrowers, following a meeting with the Chancellor to discuss the impact of rising mortgage rates on homeowners. The Charter includes allowing […]
Economic Review – June 2023
Inflation persistence forces rates higher The Bank of England (BoE) has sanctioned another hike in its benchmark interest rate after citing ‘significant upside news’ which suggests inflation is likely to take longer to fall back to the Bank’s target level. Following its latest meeting, which concluded on 21 June, the BoE’s nine-member Monetary Policy Committee […]
News in Review
“If we don’t raise rates now, it could be worse later” Last Thursday, the Bank of England (BoE)’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted to increase Bank Rate to 5%, a half percentage point rise that caught many economists by surprise. After a thirteenth consecutive rise, Bank Rate is now higher than at any point since […]
Residential Property Review – June 2023
Mixed signals in mortgage and housing markets Inflation hasn’t been falling as quickly as anticipated, resulting in the Bank of England coming under pressure to raise Bank Rate again in May. While lenders had priced in some interest rate rises in advance, the market reaction to inflation data released in May suggests that tolerance had […]
Commercial Property Market Review – June 2023
Firms office space intentions over the next three years A recent survey conducted by property consultant Knight Frank and Cresa, a commercial real estate firm, has highlighted that over the next three years, half of the biggest international employers (those with more than 50,000 employees) are anticipating reducing their global office space by between 10% […]
News in Review
“We have to do everything we can as a government, as a country, to support the Bank of England in their mission to squeeze inflation out of the system” New gross domestic product (GDP) figures released last week show the UK economy is estimated to have grown by 0.2% in April, following a fall of […]
News in Review
“The Atlantic Declaration sets a new standard for economic cooperation” Rishi Sunak made his first trip to the White House as Prime Minister last week. His whirlwind two-day visit was meeting-filled, with US President Joe Biden saying that “important and positive discussions” had taken place “to deepen our bilateral economic relationship and expand our cooperation […]