Strong wage growth gives Bank of England interest rate dilemma
Quick cuts unlikely because persistently high pay rises will probably be deemed inflationary UK pay growth rises 6% despite job loss warnings after Reeves’s budget Business live – latest updates There was a brief period when the Bank of England was poised to cut interest rates and cut
Read MoreUK pay growth rises 6% despite job loss warnings after Reeves’s budget
Unemployment rate unchanged in three months to December, while vacancies increased in January Business live – latest updates The pay of UK workers grew sharply in December and unemployment remained unchanged despite warnings from business that Rachel Reeves’s autumn budget would lead to job losses. Figures from the
Read MoreUK economy grows by 0.1% in unexpected boost for Rachel Reeves
ONS data showing British national output rose in final quarter of 2024 confounds forecasts of 0.1% decline Britain has avoided a recession after the economy unexpectedly picked up in the final three months of 2024, easing some of the pressure on Rachel Reeves after flatlining during the summer.
Read MoreUK economy on course for 1.5% expansion, NIESR predicts
Thinktank cautions Trump tariffs could blow hole in forecast, with 63% of UK firms exporting to US expecting to be hit The British economy is on course to expand by 1.5% this year after the budget gave a boost to public spending but could be blown off course
Read MoreAndrew Bailey warns against watering down City regulations in pursuit of growth
Bank of England governor says there is ‘no trade-off’ between economic growth and financial stability The governor of the Bank of England has warned against watering down City regulations introduced after the 2008 banking crash, saying there was “no trade-off” between economic growth and financial stability. In a
Read MoreBank of England’s Mann backed rate cut as she sees inflation ‘hump’ easing
Downturn in jobs market will mean workers will be unlikely to be able to bid up their wages, says policymaker Business live – latest updates The Bank of England policymaker Catherine Mann has said she backed a half-point cut in UK interest rates last week because she believes
Read MoreThe Guardian view on interest rates: the Bank of England on its own won’t revive growth | Editorial
Base rate cuts may ease borrowing costs but without stronger public spending and targeted tax relief, economic stagnation will persist “It will be welcome news to many that we have been able to cut interest rates again,” said Andrew Bailey, the Bank of England governor, last week. Plenty
Read MoreYou may not like Trump, but his power grab for the economic levers is right. Liberals, take note! | Leah Downey
The US president has recognised something that is rarely acknowledged: monetary policy is political. The question is how to make it democratic If I asked you to list the things that make democratic politics meaningful, what would you include? Most likely elections and education. Perhaps the NHS, or
Read MoreUK can’t say ‘job done’ on fighting inflation, says Bank of England’s Huw Pill
Chief economist warns that ‘cautious’ approach to further interest rate reductions is required The Bank of England is not in a position to declare “job done” in tackling inflation amid concerns over rising prices hitting households, Threadneedle Street’s chief economist, Huw Pill, has said. Speaking a day after
Read More‘Stagflation’ fears as Bank of England cuts growth forecast and warns of price rises
UK economy expected to grow by just 0.75% this year, in fresh blow to Rachel Reeves’s attempts to raise confidence Rachel Reeves’s plans for growth suffered a double blow after the Bank of England halved its forecast for the year and warned households would face mounting pressure from
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