Just when you think it couldn’t get any worse, the threat of a global trade war has contributed to confidence in the UK economy plummeting to record lows. The IPSOS economic index is running at the lowest level since records began. But, it’s more than just international turmoil; dissatisfaction with the economy has been building …
Do you remember when Covid led to empty shelves, panic buying of toilet paper and then when it all ended – a surge in inflation? It was only 3 years ago, though it feels longer. However, US stores could soon see looming shortages as 145% tariffs on China caused a sharp drop in US imports …
It’s pretty easy to talk about the problems with the UK economy – 18 years of low growth, stagnant real wages, low productivity, low investment, housing costs through the roof. The numbers don’t lie. If past trends had continued from 2007, average households would be at least £8,000 a year better off. If we could …
It’s not been a good week for the UK economy with the Bank of England downgrading economic growth and upgrading inflation forecasts. We’re heading for stagflation, the worst of both worlds. If you wanted more bad news, the Bank of England warned that productivity growth may actually be even worse than the pretty dismal statistics …
In the past four years, the German economy has experienced a torrid time. Whilst America has boomed, Germany has experienced the worst recession in decades, with the shock return of high inflation and falling real wages. How Germany Damaged its Own EconomyWatch this video on YouTube In the 2012 Euro debt crisis, it was southern …
How Ireland Overtook the UK economyWatch this video on YouTube In the post-war period the newly independent Republic of Ireland still lagged the richer UK economy across the sea. It was a largely agragrian economy, with wages 40% the level of the UK and widespread poverty. But, over the next few decades, the Irish …
There’s been no honeymoon for the new Labour government. Since the election in July, UK growth has continued its long-term trend of barely existing. Recent data disappointed analysts with output falling in the last two months. Monthly data is noisy, but it comes amidst business warning of a weaker labour market, with higher national insurance, …
After the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, western countries imposed a series of sanctions on Russia. Some claimed this would cripple Russian economy and led to a deep recession. But, the Russian economy seemed to shrug this off growing at 3.6% in 2023 making it own of the fastest growing economies in the G20. And …