UK inflation: What are people buying during coronavirus lockdown? May 20, 2020 There was further confirmation of the economic impact of the Covid-19 crisis this morning when new figures revealed a slump in inflation. The UK inflation rate tumbled to just 0.8 per cent in April, down from 1.5 per cent the previous month and marking the lowest level since August 2016, according to the Office for [...]
A second tragedy: Greek economy could shrink by 13 per cent this year May 20, 2020 The Greek economy could shrink by 13 per cent this year, the country’s finance minister has said, in an economic disaster that comes despite Greece keeping coronavirus infections under control. Finance Minister Christos Staikouras said the economy could shrink by between 10 and 13 per cent. But he said the conservative government will do all [...]
TUC calls for shake-up of UK economy during Covid-19 recovery May 20, 2020 The Trades Union Congress (TUC) has urged the government to roll out a raft of radical economic reforms to tackle the “despair of mass unemployment” and aid the UK’s coronavirus recovery. In a report published today the TUC, which represents most UK unions, called for the creation of a national recovery council to oversee an [...]
World Trade Organization: Global trade to drop ‘precipitously’ May 20, 2020 The World Trade Organization (WTO) has said international trade is set to drop “precipitously” in the first half of 2020 as coronavirus wreaks havoc on global supply chains and consumer demand. The WTO’s gauge of the health of global trade fell to 87.6, its lowest reading since the goods trade barometer was launched in 2016. [...]
Eurozone inflation hits four-year low as coronavirus batters demand May 20, 2020 The Eurozone inflation rate plunged to 0.3 per cent in April, official figures have shown, as coronavirus lockdowns caused energy prices to tumble and demand for goods and services to evaporate. Annual Eurozone price inflation of 0.3 per cent was the lowest in four years. It was down from 0.7 per cent in March and [...]
UK inflation rate plunges to lowest level since 2016 amid coronavirus May 20, 2020 The UK inflation rate tumbled from 1.5 per cent in March to 0.8 per cent in April as coronavirus pushed Britain into lockdown, according to data out today. Collapsing oil prices contributed to the plunge in the consumer prices index (CPI) that determines the inflation rate, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said. It fell [...]
Coronavirus: Over half of UK firms cannot reopen fully, survey shows May 20, 2020 Almost 50 per cent of UK firms are only ready to partially reopen their businesses as the government lifts the coronavirus lockdown, a survey has shown, with one in 10 saying they cannot restart at all due to Covid guidelines. The survey, from the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), also showed that 85 per cent [...]
Rishi Sunak warns swift economic recovery ‘not obvious’ May 19, 2020 Chancellor Rishi Sunak has poured cold water on hopes that the UK economy will make a rapid recovery from the sharp economic downturn caused by Covid-19. Speaking in front of the Lords economic committee today, Sunak warned it was “not obvious that there will be an immediate bounce back”. “It takes time to get back [...]
German finance minister: €500bn Recovery fund will help Europe exit crisis May 19, 2020 Germany’s finance minister has said the proposed €500bn (£450bn) European recovery fund will help EU member states “grow out of the crisis together”. Olaf Scholz’s statement came after German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French Prime Minister Emannuel Macron yesterday jointly suggested a €500bn fund in what was seen as a potential breakthrough for the bloc. [...]
Bank of England to name recipients of coronavirus loans May 19, 2020 The Bank of England has said it will start naming the companies that use its coronavirus lending facility in a bid to increase transparency about which firms are being bailed out. Firms using the Bank’s covid corporate financing facility (CCFF) will also be expected to start “showing restraint” on dividend payments, share buy-backs and senior [...]