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, [...]
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 [...]
London could be Europe’s Hollywood – but we need to act now August 11, 2024 A backward-looking mindset is stopping London's film industry from thriving, writes Trevor Morriss
Feeling like a hero for coming to work while sick? Well, you’re not August 8, 2024 You might feel like a hero for battling through a cold, but there's a hidden cost for your company and the economy, writes Paul Schreier
It’s not just taxes, rent, childcare and a decrepit NHS are driving talent out of the UK August 1, 2024 High taxes are a problem, but the list of factors driving talent away from the UK is far more extensive, writes John Oxley One of the first criticisms levelled at Labour’s intended tax rises is their potential to drive high-productivity workers away from the UK. It is a fair one. In a world where capital [...]
Explainer: Why taking a sick day could help boost the economy July 31, 2024 We’ve all seen it: corpse-like colleagues clocking in at the office because honestly they’re fine, “just a cold,” they cough, bravely. But did you know such heroics could be costing the economy £25bn a year? That’s right, according to the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR), people working through illness rather than taking a sick [...]
US GDP sails past expectations again on back of strong consumer spending July 25, 2024 The world’s largest economy breezed past economists’ expectations yet again as consumer spending picked up more than anticipated. According to new ‘flash’ figures published on Thursday, US GDP grew at an annualised rate of 2.8 per cent between April and June. Economists had expected GDP to grow 2.0 per cent. This was a substantial acceleration [...]
Will Labour’s move to hire 300 planning officers be enough to get Britain building again? July 24, 2024 Since entering office, planning reforms have been central to the new government’s attempts to stimulate higher economic growth. Chancellor Rachel Reeves has already announced a number of important changes to the planning regime with more changes expected before the end of the month. Alongside these reforms, the government has committed to hire 300 extra planners [...]
Rachel Reeves promises ‘big bang’ on growth as she launches pensions review July 21, 2024 The review will explore ways in which billions of pounds worth of assets held by pension funds could be directed to productive assets, helping to fuel growth across the country.
Britain’s EU summit is Starmer’s chance to prove he champions the City July 18, 2024 Britain's EU summit is a welcome step, but the City and its industries must be at the forefront, writes Michael Cole-Fontayn.