Category archives: News in Review

“The beginning of a sign that a corner has been turned” Data released last Wednesday revealed that UK inflation slowed for a second consecutive month, though prices still rose by 10.5% in the year to December. The small drop, down from 10.7% in November, came despite food prices soaring to their highest level since 1977 […]

“For hard-working families facing today’s challenging economic conditions, it’s right that we continue to help them secure their first home or move into their dream house” The government has confirmed the extension of the Mortgage Guarantee Scheme by one year to the end of December 2023. Positive news for people with 5% deposits, the scheme […]

“Our reforms deliver smarter regulation of financial services that will unlock growth and opportunity” Last Friday, as temperatures plummeted, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced a package of over thirty UK financial services regulatory reforms, dubbed the ‘Edinburgh Reforms,’ which the government intends will ‘unlock investment and turbocharge growth in towns and cities across the UK.’ A […]

“Even before the recent increases in mortgage rates, affordability was becoming more stretched across the UK” UK house prices fell by 1.4% month-on-month in November, according to the latest Nationwide House Price Index released last Thursday, the biggest monthly drop since June 2020. At £263,788, the non-seasonally adjusted November average price was 4.4% higher on […]

 “A balanced plan for stability” Last Thursday, Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt set out his plan to “tackle the cost-of-living crisis and rebuild our economy” in his first Autumn Statement. Striking a defiant tone, the Chancellor said that he was “taking difficult decisions”, while emphasising that the government’s priorities are “stability, growth and public […]

“The road ahead will be a tough one… but the economy will recover, and inflation will fall” At the latest meeting of the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) concluding on 3 November, Bank Rate rose by 0.75 percentage points, an eighth consecutive increase and the biggest for 33 years. Members of the MPC […]

“Our number one priority is economic stability and restoring confidence” Last week during the first meeting of the new Cabinet in Downing Street, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced the postponement of the government’s fiscal statement from 31 October to 17 November. Delayed by over a fortnight, the Medium-Term Fiscal Statement, due to be delivered in the […]

“We now need stability and unity” In another whirlwind week in UK politics, Liz Truss resigned last Thursday, the shortest serving Prime Minister in British history. Speaking outside Downing Street she said she could not deliver the mandate on which she was elected. Her resignation after just 44 days kickstarted a contest to find the […]

“We need to act now to reassure the markets of our fiscal discipline” Last Friday, in response to the mounting political crisis over his tax-cutting Growth Plan, Kwasi Kwarteng arrived back earlier than scheduled from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) conference in Washington, and headed straight to Downing Steet, where the Prime Minister sacked him […]

“We are experiencing a fundamental shift in the global economy” Last week, International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva delivered a speech in Washington DC entitled ‘Navigating a more fragile world.’ She referred to the combined impact of a trio of challenges – recovery from the pandemic, the Ukraine invasion and climate issues – which have […]