This week marked a year since the first lockdown was introduced. Over thatperiod consumers and firms have increasingly adapted to life under...
UK | The effect of lockdown becomes clearer
Posted by Martin Beck on Feb 19, 2021
Last week’s evidence on how well the economy is bearing up to the pain of the current lockdown was mixed. Retail sales in January fell by more...
UK | Cold snap sends shoppers online, warms up activity data
Posted by Martin Beck on Feb 17, 2021
The recent spell of very cold weather seems apt for an economy partially frozen as a result of lockdown. High-frequency indicators of economic...
United Kingdom: Negative rates remain a distant prospect
Posted by Martin Beck on Feb 8, 2021
The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) chose to look through the economic blow of the current lockdown to a vaccinated, brighter, future, in its...
United Kingdom: A hawkish tilt as the MPC predicts better times ahead
Posted by Martin Beck on Feb 5, 2021
Despite the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) downgrading its near-term outlook for the economy, prospects for a vaccine-driven boost to the...