UK Economy

The Bank of England faces the spectre of rising inflation once more as easy wins from goods and energy prices will no longer be able to flatter stubbornly high services inflation.

Pound Sterling defended its recent gains after UK inflation hit the target in June and left markets none the wiser as to whether the Bank of England would proceed with an interest rate cut in August.

The UK economy is forecasted by economists to maintain its positive momentum through the second half of the year.

Pound Sterling rose after the UK's GDP rose more than expected in May, lessening the odds of an interest rate cut on August 1.

A monthly labour market survey reports the fastest rise in permanent pay for eight months, underpinning a Bank of England policymaker's warning that an August rate cut is not warranted.

The British Pound firmed ahead of the weekend, helped in part by news UK's economy grew more than was previously estimated in the first quarter of this year as the impact of rising incomes and falling inflation took hold.

Businesses say their price expectations fell sharply to an 11-month low in June, a development that the Bank of England will welcome.

The British Pound will head into the weekend with some wind in its sails thanks to an above-consensus retail sales print from the ONS.

Growing confidence in the economy has driven another boosted overall UK consumer confidence in June, reports GfK.

The British Pound rose after the UK reported another strong services inflation print, although the headline CPI inflation rate hit the Bank of England's 2.0% target.

Reform UK has announced it would offer a tax cut in excess of £5000 for those earning more than £75000, but financial analysts say how it will be funded is unclear.

The UK economy flatlined in April but this won't upset a steady multi-month trend of recovery, and analysts say the next government will inherit a tailwind of growth.

The British Pound fell against the Euro and Dollar after the UK reported job losses and rising unemployment in its latest employment figures, although losses will be limited by still-high wage increases.

Business confidence in the UK reached an eight-and-a-half-year high in May, buoyed by rises in trading prospects and economic optimism.

New data from the CBI shows UK retail sales rose at their fastest pace since December 2022 in May.

Inflation for goods and food sold in UK shops has fallen back to what is considered to be normal levels by economists at the British Retail Consortium (BRC), but this won't be enough to convince the Bank of England it should cut interest rates next month.

The UK's most authoritative survey of consumer confidence continues to show an ongoing improvement, led by firming household finances and expectations for the economy.

The British Pound dipped against the Euro and Dollar after UK retail sales fell sharply in April, but markets look willing to look through the figures owing to the effect of incelement weather.

The Pound shed some of the previous day's gains after a survey of the UK economy showed a slowing in activity during May.

Economists at JP Morgan expect the Bank of England to cut interest rates in August, but details in the April inflation print warn of growing risks that a 2024 rate cut might not happen at all.