With inflation continuing to rise and central banks reacting by raising interest rates, the critical question must be how high will rates have to rise to curb inflationary pressure? To do that, we need to consider what a ‘neutral’ interest rate – one that kept prices steady – would look like, and how much higher …
Economic shocks and the tightrope to growth
Yet again, the Chancellor’s Spring Statement turned into a Spring Budget. Expectations were that the Government would intervene to alleviate the impact of higher fuel and food prices on household income. Whilst fuel duty was cut by 5p a litre for 12 months and the National Insurance threshold raised, for many, those expectations weren’t met, …
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UK monetary policy to remain on hold, for now
In June this year, annual UK consumer price inflation on the central banks preferred measure (CPIH) hit 2.4%, marginally above the 2% target and the highest level since the pandemic started in 2019. It was a rate last seen in August 2018. For some commentators, it was a vindication of the view that the Bank …
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