‘Sticky’ hurdle rates contributing to resilient UK business investment August 22, 2024 Research from the Bank shows that firms' use of 'hurdle rates' might be slowing the impact of higher interest rates.
Growth set to continue as confidence in the economy builds August 22, 2024 A closely watched survey suggests that the UK will continue growing at a robust pace in the second half of the year as confidence in the economy continues to build. S&P’s ‘flash’ purchasing managers’s index (PMI) accelerated to 53.4 in August, up from 52.8 last month and ahead of the 52.9 expected by economists. PMIs, [...]
Social rent increases may not ‘move dial’ on housebuilding, Rachel Reeves warned August 21, 2024 Rachel Reeves’ plans to increase social rent may not “move the dial in a material way” on council housebuilding, a corporate finance firm is warning. The Chancellor will reportedly up social rent by bringing in a decade-long formula to raise housing costs in England boosted by the CPI inflation measure – currently 2.2 per cent [...]
Government borrowing exceeds estimates as public sector spending jumps August 21, 2024 Monthly borrowing figures will be closely watched over the coming months for clues about how much Labour will raise taxes in October's Budget.
Green energy plans could reduce costs for UK steelmakers, industry says August 20, 2024 Plans for the UK to become a green energy superpower could help reduce costs for British steelmaking, a supplier has said. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer visited a wind farm near Carmarthen, west Wales, today as part of a trip to promote his ambition for renewable power through setting up GB Energy. The public company [...]
JP Morgan nudges up UK growth forecasts after latest GDP figures August 20, 2024 JP Morgan bumped up their growth forecasts for the UK economy in the third quarter of this year following last week’s GDP figures. The investment bank now expects the economy to grow 0.4 per cent between July and September, up from a previous estimate of 0.3 per cent. This equates to an annualised growth rate [...]
Topps Tiles acquires CTD brand and assets out of administration for £9m August 19, 2024 FTSE-listed Topps Tiles has acquired CTD Tiles out of administration for £9m as it looks to enter the housebuilding segment. The purchase included CTD Tiles’ brands, 30 stores, selected stock and customer data, Topps said. CTD, which supplied tiles to the retail, trade and commercial markets, entered administration on 19 August after a wider downturn [...]
Why public-private partnerships are more difficult in the UK August 18, 2024 Labour's promised big on growth by backing the City, but successful partnership with business is easier said than done, writes Andrew O'Brien.
UK could be ‘best performing economy’ so far in 2024 after week of data August 16, 2024 It's been a busy week for the Office for National Statistics (ONS), publishing a raft of statistics on the UK economy for traders and Bank of England ratesetters to digest.
UK retail sales tick up in July after summer discounts and Euros boost August 16, 2024 Friday's data is among a raft of economic figures released this week that will provide key indicators for Bank of England policymakers as they decide whether to cut interest rates in September.