UK productivity falls at fastest rate in five years October 8, 2019 UK productivity fell at the quickest pace in five years in the second quarter, official figures showed today, marking a worsening of Britain’s decade-long productivity crisis. Read more: Brexit prep has cut UK productivity, says Bank of England Output per hour worked dropped 0.5 per cent in the three months from April to June compared [...]
Mark Carney says Bank of England to stress test banks with ‘catastrophic’ climate scenario October 8, 2019 Bank of England governor Mark Carney has reiterated Threadneedle Street’s intention to stress test banks against a number of “climate pathways,” including a “catastrophic business as usual scenario”. Read more: Bank of England’s Mark Carney says UK now better prepared for no-deal Brexit Speaking at a summit about climate change and banking in Japan, Carney [...]
German factory output bounces back but sector still weak October 8, 2019 German factory output rose unexpectedly in August, suggesting that the expected recession in Europe’s biggest economy in the third quarter may not be as deep as some fear. Read more: Eurozone recession risk ‘very real’ as slowdown infects services sector Industrial output increased 0.3 per cent, up from an upwardly revised fall of 0.4 per [...]
Government almost matching Labour’s spending pledges, says IFS October 8, 2019 The government is set to break its own spending rules next year, the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) think tank has warned, with its plans now closer in cost to Labour’s 2017 manifesto pledges than its own from that year. Read more: Sajid Javid confirms budget will take place later this year The IFS today [...]
Gloom thickens over Eurozone economy as German factory orders tumble October 7, 2019 German recession fears have been pushed up a notch after factory orders plunged by more than expected in August, continuing the economy’s dire 2019. Read more: Eurozone recession risk ‘very real’ with services close to stagnation New orders from German factories fell by 6.7 per cent in the year to August, Germany’s statistics body said [...]
Poll: British pound to bounce if UK avoids no-deal Brexit October 4, 2019 The British pound will get a post-Brexit bounce if the UK leaves the European Union with a deal, a new poll of economists shows. However, if no Brexit deal is reached sterling will suffer further losses against the dollar, according to Reuters’ survey. Read more: Sterling jumps to push FTSE deeper into the red If [...]
Boris can talk a good pro-market game, but matching policies are yet to follow October 4, 2019 This government, unlike governments before it, is not afraid to announce its pro-market and pro-enterprise philosophy. Boris Johnson’s declaration of support for capitalism on stage at the Conservative party conference is not exactly the stuff of breaking news headlines. But while it may not be newsworthy, it is certainly noteworthy, as it represents a huge [...]
Taxes too high where you live? It’s time to vote with your feet October 4, 2019 Moving is the ultimate form of tax avoidance. It is legal and effective – although rather drastic. Often we think in terms of a person or business relocating from one country to another. Last year Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Britain’s richest businessman, decided to move to Monaco. In 2010, his company Ienos moved its headquarters to [...]
DEBATE: Should we be worried about yesterday’s services sector PMI data? October 4, 2019 Should we be worried about yesterday’s services sector PMI data? Simon Wilson, director at Icon Solutions, says YES. The UK services sector represents around 80 per cent of our overall economic output, so a contraction in this area should set alarm bells ringing for economists and business owners. The City serves as the engine of [...]
Rising UK recession risk frightens businesses October 4, 2019 The spectre of recession is looming over the British economy with the country’s huge services sector having contracted in September, according to closely-watched survey data from yesterday. Read more: UK recession alarm bells ring as UK service sector contracts The sector – which makes up about 80 per cent of the UK economy – saw [...]