UK DOWNGRADES ECONOMIC FORECASTS; RETURN TO POST-PANDEMIC LEVEL DELAYED TO END 2022
By Laurie Laird LONDON (MaceNews) – The UK economy – already lagging its developed-world peers – will recover more slowly than expected, according to updated forecasts released on Wednesday. Output will not regain its pre-pandemic level until the final quarter of 2022, according to UK’s top finance official, Chancellor Rishi Sunak, delivering his spending statement […]
UK EXTENDS GOVERNMENT FURLOUGH SCHEME UNTIL MARCH FOLLOWING WEAK BOE OUTLOOK
By Laurie Laird LONDON (MaceNews) – The UK government has extended its job support scheme until the end of March, just hours after the Bank of England downgraded its economic forecast for the fourth quarter. The UK’s top finance official, Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak, told parliament that the programme will provide 80% of […]
UK GOV’T UNVEILS SUPPORT FOR WORKERS ON REDUCED HOURS FROM NOVEMBER
–-— Chancellor confirms furlough scheme will end in October By Laurie Laird LONDON (MaceNews) – The U.K. government unveiled a new job support scheme on Thursday, aimed subsiding the wages of workers on reduced hours, but provided no additional assistance for those drawing on the nation’s job retention plan which will expire at the end […]
BANK OF ENGLAND’S BAILEY SETS THE STAGE FOR RATE CUT
By Laurie Laird LONDON (MaceNews) – The UK’s top central banker sketched out the details of the Bank of England’s deliberations on sub-zero interest rates on Tuesday, dropping his heaviest hint yet that rates could fall into negative territory over the medium term. “We’ve got to work with the banks” to ensure that negative rates don’t […]
BOE DEFENDS FORECASTS AS AGENTS QUERY OPTIMISTIC ASSUMPTIONS
By Laurie Laird LONDON (MaceNews) – Top Bank of England officials Friday reiterated the downside risks to forecasts of a smart economic rebound under questioning from the BoE’s regional representatives about the Bank’s baseline forecasting assumptions. The central forecast released Thursday “is sensible,” albeit with “very substantial” downside risk, said Governor Andrew Bailey, addressing a […]
BOE’S HALDANE: MPC MULLING SUB-ZERO RATES DESPITE STRONG ECONOMIC RECOVERY
By Laurie Laird LONDON (MaceNews) – The Bank of England is continuing to assess the efficacy of negative interest rates, despite a stronger-than-expected economy recovery, the bank’s chief economist said Monday. Sub-zero interest rates are “actively under review,” said Andy Haldane, addressing the UK’s Treasury Select Committee. The bank could also consider expanding its quantitative […]
UK CHANCELLOR CONFIRMS WINDING DOWN OF JOB PROTECTION SCHEME
–Announces Tax Cut to Preserve Leisure Sector Employment By Laurie LairdLONDON (MaceNews) – The UK Treasury will end its job protection programme at the end of October, raising fears of a surge in unemployment as the government furlough scheme winds down beginning in August. “The furlough scheme cannot and should not go on forever … […]
BOE’S BROADBENT DOWNPLAYS PROSPECTS OF UK RECOVERY IN H2
— Sees OBR forecast of 35% decline in output in Q2 as “not unreasonable”— Decision on expanded QE expected early next month By Laurie Laird LONDON (MaceNews) – A Bank of England deputy governor Monday endorsed a grim forecast of a massive economic contraction in the second quarter, but warned that a rapid recovery may […]