So the UK is set to have its 7th Prime Minister in ten years. In this time, it is no co-incidence we have seen a continued stagnation in living standards. At the root of the problem is a decline in productivity growth; the years of growth are over. Every prime minister had a plan for …
US stock valuations are approaching levels last seen during the dot-com bubble. Investors argue this time is different because of AI. But that is exactly what investors said about the internet in 1999. Nothing illustrates today’s optimism better than the SpaceX IPO. At launch SpaceX was valuing itself at $2 trillion. This means a valuation …
What’s going on with the UK economy? For the second month in a row, Inflation data has come in better than expected. Whilst the Bank of England expected a rise in inflation, the UK is seeing lower inflation, despite the Iran war and rising transport prices. For years it was the opposite, inflation higher than …
Imagine a UK industry that generated £23 billion in export revenue, contributed £63 billion to the economy, and provided nearly 1 million jobs. You might think it would be touted as a great success story, perhaps even encouraged. But, British universities are in crisis, 24 universities could face insolvency or closure within 12 months. …
This is the traditional view of the UK housing market. House prices soaring. You can’t go wrong with housing. But now the housing market increasingly works only for those whose parents are already on the ladder. Back in 1980, houses were 4 times income; today, it is closer to seven times income. Even when prices …
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. If may sound like a cliché, but it is exactly what is happening in the US economy. On the one hand, the stock market wealth is soaring, but at the same consumer sentiment is plunging to record low levels. US Households are putting …
Since 2000, average prices in the UK have risen 98%, yet some goods like gas, electricity and education have increased at a much faster rate. This is the cost of living crisis, essential utilities, rising above inflation. We might also add items not fully covered by ONS inflation – council taxes, the rise of the …
Thailand’s fertility rate has collapsed to around 0.8 — one of the lowest ever recorded in human history. If this fertility remained at 0.8, in 2050, Thailand’s population will fall to 47 million. By 2100, it will fall to 21 million, in 2150 – 6 million and in 200 years’ time, just 2 million people. …