Category: global economy

How much should we worry about surging gilt yields?

Investors are mainly being spooked by global inflation fears, not UK politics. But the additional uncertainty created by the crisis in the Labour government is definitely not helping! Once again, UK government bonds (aka gilts) are making the news again, and not in a good way. The yields on these bonds can be read as … Continue reading How much should we worry about surging gilt yields?

Politicians should work with BP and Shell, not demonise them

Many commentators like to pontificate about the profits made by big energy companies. But this grandstanding reveals a feeble grasp of basic economics and numbers, and is ultimately counterproductive. In case you missed it, some big companies selling products which are now in short supply have seen their profits rise because of higher prices. This … Continue reading Politicians should work with BP and Shell, not demonise them

Explainer – debunking the dodgy stats used by Project Rejoin

There is now a bewildering range of estimates for the harm that Brexit is supposed to have done to the UK economy, or the benefits of rejoining the EU. Indeed, pro-EU accounts often present several inconsistent figures as if each were established facts – even in the same post! Here is a brief rundown of … Continue reading Explainer – debunking the dodgy stats used by Project Rejoin

Subdued money growth should limit inflation risks

The jump in UK inflation from 3.0% to 3.3% in March is obviously bad news but not quite as bad as some had feared (or at least no worse). In particular, the Bank of England had expected this number to be “close to 3½%” when interest rates were left on hold last month. Moreover, this jump can … Continue reading Subdued money growth should limit inflation risks