Credit, Collections & Insolvency News
The Bank of England has opted to hold the base rate at 5.25%, this marks the sixth consecutive meeting where the Monetary Policy Committee has opted against raising or cutting interest rates. Commenting on the announcement, Steve Vaid, Chief Executive at the Money Advice Trust said “High interest rates have already added to the pressure…
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New research by TotallyMoney has found that one in five (9.7 million) current account customers are overdrawn by an average of £697, with £1.4 billion spent on bank overdrafts each year. The research showed that on average, one in five people (18.8%) are £697 overdrawn each day that with most high street banks charging customers…
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The Bank of England’s rate-setting body the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) announced it has decided to keep interest rates on hold at 5.25% for the fifth time in a row. The MPC voted by a majority of 8–1 to maintain Bank Rate at 5.25%. One member preferred to reduce Bank Rate by 0.25 percentage points,…
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Two thirds of London businesses are concerned that inflation and high interest rates will dampen economic activity in the first half of 2024, according to a quarterly survey from the London Chambers of Commerce and Industry (LCCI). The survey also shows that a majority of those polled saw fuel and energy costs increase in Q4…
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The EY Item Club predicts that UK interest rates will start to be cut in May, as inflation is expected to fall to the Bank of England’s 2% target by that time. It is predicted that the UK’s prolonged period of economic stagnation should begin to fade this year as falling inflation, potential interest rate…
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The Bank of England has announced that interest rates will be held flat at 5.25%. The MPC voted 6-3 to hold rates steady, with dissenters preferring to raise rates by 0.25% to 5.5% Responding to the news Change Debt Charity that the hold will be worrying for households yet to secure a new fixed-rate mortgage…
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The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) does not expect the Bank of England to cut interest rates until 2026, predicting that the base rate will stay at 5.25% for at least two more years. The CBI’s forecast is based on projections showing that consumer price inflation will not reach the Bank’s 2% target until Q3…
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The monthly Bank of England base interest rate announcement causes increased anxiety to two thirds of SME business owners according to a new study from Recognise Bank. The SME Mental Health Report 2023 surveyed the areas of business and events that have a significant impact on mental health, with the monthly announcement affecting 66.4% of…
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The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee voted in favour of leaving the base rate at 5.25%. Governor Andrew Bailey insists rates needed to be held high to squeeze inflation out of the economy. In its latest forecast, the Bank cut expectations for UK growth to zero, down from a previous prediction of 0.5%, while…
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The EY ITEM Club forecast presents a mixed picture for consumer spending, which is expected to benefit from several supports. Although pay growth is expected to ease, inflation should decline more quickly. Falling energy bills, easing food price inflation and weaker pipeline price pressures mean inflation is predicted to average 7.4% this year (down from…
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With the latest labour market statistics, showing a 0.5 percentage point quarterly rise in unemployment in the three months to July, the Institute of Directors is calling on the Bank of England to stop raising interest rates. Kitty Ussher, Chief Economist at the Institute of Directors, said “With today’s data showing a weakening labour market,…
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Rising interest rates have caused household wealth across Britain to fall by £2.1 trillion over the past year, but there are winners – concentrated among younger generations – as well as losers if higher rates are sustained, according to major new analysis by the Resolution Foundation and abrdn Financial Fairness Trust. The report notes that…
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Retail sales shrugged off the expected drag from May’s extra bank holiday, rising for the second successive month however the EY ITEM Club is predicting that persistent inflationary pressures and rising mortgage costs mean a sustained retail renaissance is unlikely in the near-term, with sales growth set to remain slow throughout this year. Low unemployment…
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