Here is a short post on some key points to watch for tomorrow when the Chancellor presents her ‘Spring Statement’ to the UK parliament (at about 12.30). More questions than answers, I’m afraid, but I will follow up once we know more! 1. The immediate outlook for growth. The OBR is widely expected to halve … Continue reading 10 things to look for in the Spring Statement
Category: US economy
Trump’s new tariffs are bad for the US – and probably for Britain too
A recent survey by the pollsters Opinium found that, whatever they may think of Donald Trump as a person, a majority of Brits actually like his policies. In most cases this made sense. But the new-found enthusiasm for trade protectionism is worrying and, if I may say so, distinctly un-British. The downsides are already showing. … Continue reading Trump’s new tariffs are bad for the US – and probably for Britain too
Is there hope for Britain’s economy in 2025?
In the memorable words of one official statistician, Britain’s economy was “going gangbusters” at the beginning of 2024. Unfortunately, last year appears to have ended with a whimper. The best hope now is that this pattern will be reversed in 2025, with a sluggish start giving way to a strong and sustained recovery. But the … Continue reading Is there hope for Britain’s economy in 2025?
What to make of soaring bond yields
The latest surge in gilt yields - which represents the cost of new borrowing by the UK government in the bond market - is yet another shock that the already fragile economy could do without. To be fair, this crisis is not entirely the making of Rachel Reeves and her October Budget. Bond yields have … Continue reading What to make of soaring bond yields
Plain-speaking Economics 