If you believe the media coverage of the latest consumer confidence surveys, household spending is set to collapse under the weight of the cost of living crisis, dragging the UK economy into a deep recession. But how reliable are these signals? As always, it is worth digging past the headlines. The GfK measure of consumer … Continue reading Weak consumer confidence doesn’t necessarily signal recession
Category: Everyday Economics
Is inflation really a lot higher for poorer people?
The Office for National Statistics will shortly be publishing new figures on inflation rates for different types of household. They will also be updating the method for collecting individual prices from supermarkets. However, anyone hoping for evidence that inflation is much higher for low-income households is likely to be disappointed. In particular, the anti-poverty campaigner … Continue reading Is inflation really a lot higher for poorer people?
England, the Euros, and the economy…
A few quick thoughts on the economics of the Euro 2020 football tournament and calls for a snap Bank Holiday if England beat Italy in the final. England’s sterling performances during the tournament have been great for the nation’s mood. It has been fantastic to see the country come together and have so much to … Continue reading England, the Euros, and the economy…
Should the prices of family holidays be capped outside term time?
A day rarely seems to go by without fresh calls for the government to control the price of a good or service in response to some perceived unfairness. The latest example is the outcry over the higher cost of holidays taken outside school term times. But this outcry also illustrates why, more often than not, … Continue reading Should the prices of family holidays be capped outside term time?
Plain-speaking Economics 