Interest rates
The Bank of England panics and misses the point
Wonders never cease. I awoke this morning to hear that the Deputy Governor, Paul Tucker, had announced that consideration should be given to the Bank of England setting negative interest… Continue reading
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The IMF says it’s the Bank’s economy now
When the IMF published a report into the UK economy last year, I wrote a blog post detailing how it managed to please everyone: George Osborne, Vince Cable, Mervyn King,… Continue reading
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Right to reply: Why QE isn’t a disaster for pensioners
The best of all possible worlds for the pension industry is a buoyant economy. Workers have enough money to save, share prices rise and dividend growth is robust. Interest rates… Continue reading
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The wealth transfer and where it’s going
The last three years have been one big transfer of wealth from savers to borrowers. Thanks to record low interest rates, savers have gained little from tucking their money away… Continue reading
18 CommentsThe growth script still needs writing
The Times is being a bit harsh on Cameron in its leader this morning. ‘On the economy’, it says, ‘Cameron has contracted out policy to George Osborne and then followed… Continue reading
29 CommentsRead my lips: no new tax cuts
There are still rumours in Westminster that David Cameron will cut taxes to stimulate the economy, but the speech he gave to the Canadian parliament on Thursday rather scotches this… Continue reading
33 CommentsInflation target missed again
Today’s inflation figures remind us of the trouble the Bank of England will have if – as most analysts suspect – it embarks on another phase of Quantitative Easing. CPI… Continue reading
27 CommentsThe dangers of home ownership
The slump in home ownership is reported today as a bad thing. Many Conservatives, who believe that home ownership releases what the late Shirley Letwin called "vigorous virtues", may agree.… Continue reading
49 CommentsThe good news story that Osborne wants you to hear
There was much sly amusement earlier this week when George Osborne, responding to the latest growth figures, described Britain as "a safe haven in the storm". The idea that… Continue reading
36 CommentsShaking our faith in money
Addictive though the hacking inquiry is, the average Brit is probably more worried about the slow decimation of his spending power at a time when salaries are flat. Against this… Continue reading
72 CommentsMixed news from the Eurozone
France and Germany’s better than expected growth numbers are making news today. But the divergence within the Eurozone — Estonia grew at 2.1 percent in the first quarter, Portugal shrank… Continue reading
18 CommentsMiliband can’t credibly complain about both inflation and growth
Today’s shocking inflation figures have sparked a fascinating debate. I laid out my take earlier, and I thought CoffeeHousers may appreciate a different perspective. Matthew Hancock MP is a member… Continue reading
32 CommentsThe inflation crisis deepens
How big does inflation have to get before our politicians admit that it’s a problem? Once again, it has “surprised” on the upside – the CPI index stood at 3.7… Continue reading
78 CommentsThe crash from an Austrian perspective
It’s not all politics at Westminster. There’s a pretty good think-tank scene too, with lectures on topics that you’re unlikely to read about in the newspapers. One took place today:… Continue reading
55 CommentsA double boost for the coalition’s economic strategy
Perhaps, the most important thing about the 0.8 percent growth figure for the third quarter announced this morning is that all but 0.1 percent of it came from the private… Continue reading
28 CommentsA good war
As Allister Heath notes in City AM this morning, Mervyn King has had a good war. Well, not so much a good war as a profitable peace. King contributed to… Continue reading
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