The City powers the UK economy – it must not fall into Labour’s hands May 8, 2019 Despite the best efforts of a few valiant voices, the City (and its interests) received a shameful lack of attention during the Brexit debate and has been largely left to fend for itself ever since. Read more: What the next Bank of England governor’s CV looks like However, the race to succeed Mark Carney at [...]
Warm-weather pub trips boost tepid consumer spending growth in April May 8, 2019 Consumer spending growth slowed in April but was boosted by last month’s sunshine, resulting in double-digit growth in the amount spent at restaurants and pubs, according to the latest data from Barclaycard. Read more: Confidence hits new low but spending climbs amid sunny weather Overall consumer spending grew 2.5 per cent in April compared to [...]
Fix Brexit, unlock investment – and maybe we can all work a little less May 7, 2019 Did you enjoy your day off yesterday? Nice, wasn’t it, coming so soon after the extended Easter break? Plus there’s another bank holiday in just three weeks from now. Happy days. Square Mile workaholics aside, most of us would prefer to have a little more leisure and a little less time in the office – and [...]
‘Zombie firms’ dragging down UK economy, warns KPMG May 6, 2019 Increasing numbers of underperforming “zombie firms” are acting as a drag on the UK economy and raising the risk of contagion during an economic crisis, professional services firm KPMG has warned today. Read more: UK economy 'treading water' as services sector struggles Up to 14 per cent of listed UK companies showed zombie symptoms of [...]
Pennies saved as Philip Hammond sets up committee to protect access to cash May 3, 2019 Cash machines will be protected by a new government-led committee, Philip Hammond will announce today as he unveils a new taskforce to safeguard access to physical money. The Treasury-led group will coordinate work across the country to ensure people can still get to their cash in an increasingly digital payment focused economy. The Chancellor will [...]
Bank of England upgrades UK growth forecast as household spending boosts economy May 2, 2019 The Bank of England once again voted to keep interest rates on hold today, as it painted a picture of an economy propped up by household spending as Brexit uncertainty continues. Read more: Morning Wire's shadow MPC votes to hold interest rates despite recent growth Threadneedle Street also upgraded Britain's 2019 economic growth forecast to 1.5 [...]
Climate change protesters target Bank of England MPC meeting May 2, 2019 Climate activists protested outside the Bank of England this morning calling for the institution to go green, ahead of the release of its inflation report this afternoon. Demonstrators from Positive Money and Fossil Free London urged the central bank to make its quantitative easing programme environmentally friendly by stopping asset purchases in high-carbon sectors and [...]
Morning Wire’s shadow MPC votes to hold interest rates despite recent sunnier data May 1, 2019 Ongoing Brexit uncertainty means the Bank of England should hold interest rates steady tomorrow, City economists have said, despite the economy recently showing signs of strength. Read more: UK inflation rate holds steady sending Britons' real wages higher The Bank’s monetary policy committee (MPC) will at midday tomorrow announce its latest interest rate decision, along [...]
Extinction Rebellion climate change protesters want to destroy the UK’s financial sector May 1, 2019 The founder of Extinction Rebellion has ambitions to upend the UK’s financial system after her organisation targeted the City in two weeks of London protests. Gail Bradbrook wants to provoke a “mass refusal” to pay off loans and mortgages in a bid to throw London’s financial district into disarray following action that saw climate change [...]
Michael Gove meeting ‘disappointing’, says climate protest group Extinction Rebellion April 30, 2019 Climate protest group Extinction Rebellion has said it was left “frustrated” by talks with environment minister Michael Gove today, because he would not declare a climate emergency. Read more: Climate protesters blockade Treasury in action against finance sector Activists said Gove committed to discussions with London mayor Sadiq Khan on holding a citizens assembly on [...]