Capital Economics

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UK Economics Update

Short and timely commentaries on economic or market issues and events.

Sample - How will "splendid isolation" affect the UK?

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Articles
What would a Greek exit mean for gilts?Zigzag year to mask weak underlying trendRegional Monitor (May)What would a Grexit mean for the UK?QE3 likely later this yearMonetary Indicators Monitor (Apr.)Is the austerity backlash spreading to the UK?Is the austerity backlash spreading to the UK?Are the official GDP figures too gloomy?Will borrowing respond to the recovery as the OBR hopes?
Regional Monitor (Apr.)More QE in May still in the balanceMonetary Indicators Monitor (Mar.)UK banks still heavily exposed to the euro-zoneDroughts could slow fall in inflationRegional Monitor (Mar.)100 year gilt issue underlines UK safe-haven statusConsensus wrong in thinking MPC done with QE0.5% rates - 3 years down, another 3 to go?Focus on oil prices neglects wider commodity picture
Monetary Indicators Monitor (Feb.)ECB reduces risk of UK credit crunch, for nowUK Economics Update - Consumers in a sweet spotPPI payments don’t change consumer spending outlookEuro-zone recession to hit UK exports soonHigher inflation has made the public finances worseProject Merlin has not got credit flowing againExtra £50bn unlikely to be the last of QEMight UK interest rates turn negative?Monetary Indicators Monitor (Jan.)
Why haven’t UK interest rates fallen as far as elsewhere?Osborne’s hidden windfallHow would a European Tobin Tax affect the UK?Regional Monitor (Jan.)More QE likely next monthAnother GBP18bn of fiscal tightening due in 2012Regional Monitor (Nov.)How will "splendid isolation" affect the UK?More QE possible as soon as JanuaryIs the Chancellor right to take the credit for low gilt yields?
FSR highlights growing risk of credit crunchGrowth prospects worsen as euro-zone break-up nearsLittle cause for cheer on Northern Rock saleRegional Monitor (Oct.)MPC unlikely to pause for longMonetary Indicators Monitor (Oct.)Euro crisis to tip the UK back into recessionRegional Monitor (Sep.)QE2 won't eliminate recession risksGrowth forecasts revised down; recession risks rising
The privatised utilities are one route to higher investmentRegional Monitor (Aug.)Case for more QE strengtheningMonetary Indicators Monitor (Aug.)Overseas examples suggest VAT cuts costly and ineffectualEncouraging private sector investment should be part of any Plan BRegional Monitor (Jul.)What consumers need most is lower commodity pricesBounce in UK equities unlikely to continueStock market turmoil increases double dip risks
Struggling recovery needs low interest ratesFour reasons why gilt yields will stay lowMonetary Indicators Monitor (Jul.)Which measure of employment is right?Extra QE more likely than a rate riseMonetary Indicators Monitor (Jun.)Low rates needed to get recovery back on trackPlan B worries underline low interest rate outlookMonetary Indicators Monitor (May)Has the manufacturing recovery run out of steam?
Case for a rate hike weakeningMonetary Indicators Monitor (Apr.)Are the trade figures better than they look?Monetary Indicators Monitor (Mar.)How worrying is the rise in companies' price expectations?Monetary Indicators Monitor (Feb.)A strong recovery needs faster money growthFears of rising pay settlements overdoneMPC should hold its nerveProject Merlin no magic fix for bank lending
Is the MPC acting asymmetrically?Project Merlin no magic fix for bank lendingHow hard would a rate rise hit households?Monetary Indicators Monitor (Jan.)Fears of stagflation overdoneOil prices another brake on the economic recoveryMPC not panicking yetWill the MPC be panicked into raising rates?VAT inflation effects shouldn't panic the MPCA tough year ahead for consumers
Monetary Indicators Monitor (Dec.)2011 to be the year of QE2Can stockbuilding keep the recovery going?OBR sounds a cautious noteMonetary Indicators Monitor (Nov.)What does the Irish crisis mean for the UK?Fragile consumer sentiment points to spending slowdownQE2 still likely as recovery fadesMonetary Indicators Monitor (Oct.)Construction recovery built on fragile foundations
Spending Review spells out the painLow company failures keep a lid on redundanciesEdging closer to more stimulusMonetary Indicators Monitor (Sep.)What else can the MPC buy?Is employment really rising that much?Imports check net trade boostFood price rises shouldn’t prompt policy changesQE2 being readied for launchSterling rally may not be over
"Plan B" is to bank on the MPCIs there any point doing more QE?Pension funds vulnerable to renewed economic slowdownMonetary Indicators Monitor (Aug.)Signs of slowdown keep rates on holdMonetary Indicators Monitor (Jul.)No quick fix for bank lendingBank privatisations unlikely to support the recoveryHow can the Government get banks to lend?Case for near-term hike fading
Monetary Indicators Monitor (Jun.)Banks still in no position to lend much moreBudget squeeze on household finances to weigh on house pricesUK Budget ChecklistWhat if the emergency Budget raises VAT?OBR forecasts do not point to a soft BudgetRising inflation unlikely to scare MPC into rate hikesUK faces a tougher task than Canada to cut deficitMonetary Indicators Monitor (May)Spending cuts just the tip of the iceberg
OBR details underline likelihood of tax hikesOBR could prompt bigger budget tax hikesTax bargaining just a sideshow to the great squeezeFiscal uncertainty keeps MPC on holdEconomy should not scupper the dealHow will sterling markets fare after the election?UK election ushers in the Great SqueezeMonetary Indicators Monitor (Apr.)Macroprudential toolkit could help interest rates stay lowGreek woes underline need for clear fiscal plan
Could a strong pound be a post-election headache?Public sector job cuts could yet take unemployment to 3mAre hung parliament fears easing?Hot ash won’t cool the UK’s recoveryMPC waits for news on fiscal squeezeUpbeat economic news may not do the job for Mr BrownConservatives jump on the waste wagonMonetary Indicators Monitor (Mar.)Budget 2010 – Stamp duty measures ignore the real issuesUK Budget Checklist