UK Economy

UK economy tracking quite well despite Budget worries

Early Q3 indications point to a more resilient UK economy compared to last year, when Budget worries dragged activity lower. The government’s supply-side reforms could help to avoid...

Household spending adds to stronger UK economic growth

The UK economy grew faster than expected in H1, helped by household spending and business investment. However, despite a favourable productivity performance, official forecast...

UK inflation meets consensus in August

Headline UK inflation was unchanged in August, remaining at a year-on-year (yoy) increase of 3.8% and increasing in month-on-month (mom) terms by 0.3%. While core and services inflation...

Another month, another adverse inflation result

This morning’s UK consumer price inflation (CPI) result further weakens the case for easing this year until there is evidence that disinflation has resumed. Prices grew faster than...

Growth outperforms forecasts again in Q2

Despite widespread expectations that the UK economy would struggle this year as a result of Labour’s Budget last autumn, growth has been stronger than expected in the first half of...

A hawkish Bank Rate cut after an unprecedented second vote

As it did in August last year, the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted narrowly for a cut to Bank Rate. This is despite solid economic growth, above-target inflation...

Faster June inflation weakens the case for two rate cuts in H2

UK inflation was rapid in June, especially for core inflation which grew 0.4% compared to May and double the consensus expectation of 0.2%. In annual terms, overall and core inflation of...

Services inflation rises back above 5% in April

As the Bank of England has long been pre-occupied with price changes for services, April’s 5.4% annual result will encourage a more hawkish direction for Bank Rate. Market pricing has...

Slower UK inflation paves the way for a rate cut in May

UK inflation declined to 2.6% in March. While still above target, the Bank of England is likely to take comfort from a slower path for services inflation compared to its latest forecast. A...

February GDP gains from a pre-tariff manufacturing boost

While growth in February’s GDP was well above expectations, this was driven by a pre-tariff manufacturing boost. Despite an otherwise hawkish backdrop, we now expect the Bank of...