The Bank of England announced on Wednesday that it would temporarily step in to purchase long-dated bonds to tamp down disorderly market conditions that have prevailed since the Truss government announced its plan to cut taxes. The £45 billion ($50 billion) plan comes on top of the government’s ... READ MORE >
United Kingdom
European energy crisis: A quandary with no good policy options
Europe is facing a growing energy crisis as Russia cuts off natural gas supplies, leaving nations with no good policy choices to contain the fallout. The United Kingdom on Thursday announced a price cap that will freeze the average household’s energy bill at 2,500 pounds for two years. This scheme ... READ MORE >
RSM UK launches Middle Market Business Index
RSM UK on Tuesday launched the Middle Market Business Index (MMBI), the first of its kind index to focus solely on middle market businesses in the UK. The index follows the development of a similar reading -- the RSM US Middle Market Business Index -- in the United States, which has been active for more ... READ MORE >
RSM UK Financial Conditions Index: Holding steady
Financial conditions in the UK remain accommodative, signaling confidence that the policies of the monetary and fiscal authorities have created the framework for a sustained economic recovery. Ahead of the Bank of England’s critical decisions on policy normalization on Thursday, this should provide ... READ MORE >
Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee to focus on economic risk as energy prices surge
Rising energy prices will weigh on consumer spending and gross domestic product growth in the U.K. next year. At its meeting on Thursday, the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee should be more concerned about the negative impact on the economic recovery from soaring energy prices than about the ... READ MORE >
RSM UK Financial Conditions Index: Gimme shelter
Financial conditions in the U.K. have settled into a groove that would be rivaled only by the late Charlie Watts. As a result of this stability, the RSM UK Financial Conditions Index in August moved to its highest level since 2014, reaching 1.1 standard deviations above levels of risk that are ... READ MORE >
CHART OF THE DAY: Shipping costs reach 11-year high
The rise of the delta variant in Asia combined with surging demand around the world have sent shipping costs higher, which will show up in higher costs of imported goods as supply chain problems persist. The Baltic Dry Index, a metric of shipping costs, has reached an 11-year high as the resurgence of ... READ MORE >
RSM UK Financial Conditions Index remains stout despite risk of virus resurgence
The Bank of England maintained its accommodative policy stance in its announcement on Aug. 5, keeping short-term interest rates at the zero-bound while continuing to put downward pressure on long-term interest rates through purchases and holdings of fixed-income securities. As a result, our RSM UK ... READ MORE >
RSM UK Financial Conditions Index: A milestone after 7 years of stress
Financial markets continue to signal little to no unease over the spread of the delta variant in the latest manifestation of the global pandemic as the United Kingdom moves toward a wider reopening on July 19. Despite the public health risks around the variant, financial conditions imply rising risk ... READ MORE >
UK economic chartbook: Consumers gain more confidence
Mass vaccinations have stimulated a revitalization of the domestic U.K. economy in recent months, which is resulting in a rapid normalization of consumer behavior. The manufacturing sector had already begun recouping losses during the pandemic, and the increased consumer spending will aid in ... READ MORE >