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The impact of the energy shock on the UK economy remains uncertainLast week, the Monetary Policy Committee voted to maintain Bank Rate at 3.75% for the fifth consecutive meeting. Six members voted to hold rates, while three opted for an increase to 4% – a slight shift from the previous meeting, which saw a majority of 7-2. The decision comes after the latest inflation statistics were […]
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Market Commentary
I’m just as concerned about the cost of business as I am about the cost of livingIn his first week as Prime Minister, Andy Burnham got straight to work by making policy announcements aimed at offering financial support to individuals and businesses. This included a 20% cut in business rates for pubs, clubs and live music venues. The government expects that the cut, which comes into effect in April 2027, will […]
Market Commentary
People are looking for us to deliver and we willIt has been a dramatic week in Downing Street. Following Keir Starmer’s departure from Number 10, Andy Burnham was formally appointed Prime Minister on Monday and quickly set about naming his Cabinet. His arrival makes him the UK’s seventh Prime Minister in just ten years. Burnham officially became the leader of the Labour Party last […]
Market Commentary
Business disruption and economic uncertainty are becoming normalisedResearch from the Institute of Directors (IoD) found that confidence slipped among business leaders in June. The IoD Directors’ Economic Confidence Index, which measures economic sentiment, fell from -53 in May to -61 in June. Overall, the survey pointed to a weaker outlook for businesses, with revenue expectations dropping from +27 to +11 in June, […]
Market Commentary
Consumer confidence and measures of housing sentiment have weakenedThe latest data from Nationwide shows that house price growth ticked higher in June, with an annual increase of 2.2%, up from 1.7% in May. The month-on-month figures were flat, with no monthly growth in June, although this is an improvement on the decline of 0.6% seen in May. Promisingly, the regional house price data […]
Market Commentary
What’s happening around the world is compounding the UK’s low-growth storyThe Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has lowered its predictions for UK growth in its latest Economic Forecast. It is expected that UK GDP will grow by 1.1% in 2026 and 0.9% in 2027, down from the CBI’s previous projections of 1.3% and 1.5% respectively. These revised statistics take into consideration the economic uncertainty caused […]
Market Commentary
Countries need to lay the foundations for stronger growth and productivityThe latest Economic Outlook from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has outlined how the Middle East conflict is driving inflationary pressures and impacting growth potential. The report speaks about the uncertainty around the extent and duration of the conflict, highlighting how the economic impact will be ‘felt for some time,’ especially when […]
Market Commentary
The UK economy and housing market have proved remarkably resilient in recent yearsThe latest data from Nationwide shows that average UK annual house price growth slowed to 1.7% in May, down from 3.0% in April. Prices also saw a monthly decrease for the first time this year, falling by 0.6% month-on-month. This weaker growth was expected due to the economic uncertainty caused by the Middle East conflict. […]
Market Commentary
Shoppers will breathe a sigh of relief as both headline and food inflation eased this monthThe latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that inflation slowed to 2.8% in April, down from 3.3% in March. The data is better than expected, although analysts predict that inflation will rise to 4% by the end of the year due to the Middle East conflict. ONS said that the fall […]
Market Commentary
Growth picked up in the first quarter of the year, led by broad-based increases across the services sectorThe latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that the UK economy grew by 0.3% in March, following growth of 0.4% in February and no growth in January. This came as a surprise to many analysts, who had expected a small contraction as it was the first full month following the Middle […]
Market Commentary
The housing market continues to display the resilience that has been its hallmark in recent yearsThe latest data from Halifax shows that house prices remained relatively stable last month, recording a monthly fall of only 0.1% after a 0.5% decline in March. The average property price now stands at £299,313, which is 0.4% higher than April 2025. House prices continue to vary depending on region, with Northern Ireland recording the […]
Market Commentary
The right balance is likely to change depending on how events unfoldThe Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted to hold Bank Rate at 3.75% last week, however the Bank of England (BoE) suggested that increases could be on the horizon due to the inflationary pressures caused by the Middle East conflict. Eight members of the MPC were in favour of maintaining Bank Rate at the lowest level […]
Market Commentary
The Bank of England faces a stagflationary dilemmaThe latest inflation figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) have highlighted the impact of the war in Iran. The data shows that prices increased by 3.3% in the 12 months to March, up from 3% in February. Motor fuels were a key driver of inflation, with prices rising annually by 4.9% in March, […]