Definition of Household savings ratio: The percentage of disposable income that is saved. (1)
Total savings = Disposable income – Household consumption
UK Saving Ratio
Latest UK household savings ratio: Q1 2017 = 1.7% (July 2017)
By contrast the average savings ratio in the past 54 years is 9.2% of disposable income.
2017 has seen a dramatic fall in the UK savings ratio to a record low. This fall in the savings ratio has been caused by
Fall in real wages
Depreciation in Sterling post-Brexit – pushing up cost of…
savings
The Paradox of Saving
Looking at graphs for the saving ratio, I noticed a paradox. When people felt it was a good time to save more, they actually saved less. When people felt it was a bad time to save, they actually save more.
Is it a Good Time to Save?
As part of the GFK consumer confidence survey. They ask a question – In view of the current economic situation – Is it a good time to save?
Can we save our way out of the Pension Crisis?
Readers Question. We hear much about the “pensions time bomb”, as people tend to live longer and there is a bulge as “baby boomers” reach retirement age. We also hear much about the need to save for retirement. Saving *money* may mean people have more money in retirement but surely the real problem is to ensure there is more output; money is worth only what it can buy. Is there a risk that money saving will simply simply reduce current output and so reduce the income and incentives needed…
Japan Savings Ratio
Japan has traditionally had a high savings ratio, but, in past decade the savings ratio has fallen to be close to European / US levels.
Graph showing Japan Savings Rates
Japan’s economy chasing illusions
Since 1998, though Japanese saving rates have declined.
The graph is a bit hard to read, but, since 2004, Japanese saving rates have been at 2.5- 3.0%
Currently saving rates in Japan are just…