News And Announcements
Eurozone growth bounces back from Omicron hit
Eurozone growth rebounded strongly in February, a key survey showed on Monday, but costs pressures continued to mount.
Private sector growth hits eight-month high as Covid restrictions ease
Private sector output has sparked in the UK, a closely watched survey showed on Monday, as looser pandemic restrictions boosted spending on travel, leisure and entertainment.
London rebound boosts UK house price rise - Rightmove
Asking prices for UK homes rose by a record 2. 3% in February, property website Rightmove said on Monday, as the easing of Covid restrictions led to a rebound in demand in London with people returning to office work.
US existing home sales beat expectations in January
Sales of US existing homes unexpectedly rose in January, while housing inventory was at a record low, according to data released on Friday by the National Association of Realtors.
UK retail sales bounce back in January
UK retail sales bounced back in January as shoppers hit the high streets again, according to figures released on Friday by the Office for National Statistics.
Car registrations in EU fall further in January
Passenger car registrations in the European Union fell further in January, according to fresh industry data on Thursday, with the ongoing semiconductor shortage still negatively affecting car sales across the region.
UK average house prices up 10.8% in 2021 - ONS
The average UK house price increased by 10. 8% in the year to December, putting further pressure on buyers as interest rates and taxes rise.
UK inflation hits 30-year high of 5.5% in January
UK inflation hit 5. 5% in January as consumer prices hit their highest level since 1992, the Office for National Statistics said on Wednesday.
German investor sentiment improves in February - ZEW
German investor sentiment improved more than expected in February amid expectations that Covid restrictions would be eased, according to a survey released on Tuesday by the ZEW Center for European Economic Research in Mannheim.
UK wages rise as jobs market withstands pressures
UK wages rose in the final quarter of 2021 as the Labour market withstood the end of furlough and the start of the Omicron wave, official figures showed.
Goldman Sachs upgrades cash, downgrades credit
Goldman Sachs said on Monday that it remains "broadly pro risk" in its asset allocation, ‘overweight’ equities and commodities, and ‘underweight’ bonds, but upgraded cash to ‘overweight’ and downgraded credit to ‘underweight’, both for three and 12 months.
Retail footfall rises as office return continues
Footfall at UK retail destinations rose last week as workers continued to return to offices, according to figures released on Monday by retail analyst Springboard.
Tube, bus fares to rise as DfT funding war with TfL continues
The cost of commuting is set to rise further in the capital, with Transport for London announcing its biggest fare increases in more than 10 years on Monday.
Federal Reserve to raise rates 7 times this year, says Goldman
Following Thursday’s strong US inflation print, Goldman Sachs now expects the US Federal Reserve to lift interest rates seven times this year, up from a previous forecast for five rate hikes.
CMA accepts Privacy Sandbox commitments from Google
The Competition and Markets Authority announced “legally binding commitments” from Google on Friday, to address competition concerns over its Privacy Sandbox product.
UK economy shrinks less than expected
The UK economy shrank less than expected in December as activity to combat the Omicron variant helped offset the virus’s impact on services, official figures showed.
EU cuts growth forecasts
The European Commission has cut its economic growth forecasts for 2022, after the year got off to a weaker-than-expected start.
UK housing market starts 2022 on front foot
The UK housing market got off to a strong start in 2022, industry research showed on Thursday.
Financial confidence slumps to eight-year low
Households’ confidence in their financial outlook has slumped to its lowest level in more than eight years, research published on Wednesday showed.
UK rents surge to 13-year high
UK rents have hit a 13-year high, industry research showed on Wednesday, further compounding a growing cost of living crisis.