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☆ Strong pay growth in UK spreads to public sector, survey shows
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Afolabi Sotunde/file photo Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Nov 13 (Reuters) - Strong pay growth in Britain's private sector will be matched in the public sector in the year ahead, according to a survey which showed no sign of an easing of inflationary heat in the jobs market. The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) said employers in the private and public sectors both planned 5% pay rises, meaning public workers were on course for their biggest pay rise since CIPD began its surveys in 2012. The CIPD survey showed 51% of public-sector employers reported hard-to-fill vacancies compared to 38% of private-sector employers. "There remains strong demand for people, particularly in the public sector. It’s no surprise therefore that employers are expecting pay increases to match that of the private sector to remain competitive."

Persons: Afolabi, CIPD, Rishi Sunak, Jon Boys, William Schomberg, Andy Bruce Organizations: REUTERS, Chartered Institute, Personnel, Bank of England, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Canary Wharf, London, Britain

☆ Asking prices of UK homes fall by most in five years, Rightmove says
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON, Nov 13 (Reuters) - Asking prices for homes in Britain have fallen at their fastest pace in five years for the time of year, property website Rightmove said on Monday, underscoring how rising borrowing costs have caused a housing market slowdown. Average asking prices for homes fell by 1.7% between Oct. 8 and Nov. 4, a bigger fall than is typical for the pre-Christmas period, Rightmove said. "Buyers are still out there, but for many their affordability is much reduced due to higher mortgage rates," Rightmove director Tim Bannister said. Rightmove said asking prices were 3% below May's peak while agreed sales were 10% below their pre-pandemic level in 2019, a less severe fall than in the month to early October. There were signs that the shortage of homes for sale was easing with properties for sale only 1% behind their 2019 level, it said.

Persons: Rightmove, Tim Bannister, William Schomberg, Andy Bruce Organizations: Bank of England, Thomson Locations: Britain

☆ UK economy fails to grow in Q3 but sidesteps start of a recession
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

People walk over London Bridge looking at a view of Tower Bridge in the City of London financial district in London, Britain, October 25, 2023. REUTERS/ Susannah Ireland/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Nov 10 (Reuters) - Britain's sluggish economy failed to grow in the July-to-September period but at least managed to avoid the start of a recession, figures from the Office for National Statistics showed on Friday. In the month of September on its own, the economy grew by 0.2% from August when growth was revised down to 0.1% from 0.2%. "But the key point is that the economy is not weak enough to reduce core inflation and wage growth quickly," Dales said. In the three months to September, output in Britain's huge services sector fell by 0.1%, industrial production was broadly flat and construction grew by 0.1%, the Office for National Statistics said.

Persons: Susannah Ireland, Paul Dales, BoE, Rishi Sunak, Jeremy Hunt, William Schomberg, Andy Bruce, Sarah Young Organizations: REUTERS, Office, National Statistics, Reuters, Capital Economics, Bank of England, Thomson Locations: City, London, Britain, Germany, United States

☆ Bank of England set to keep rates at 15-year high despite slowdown signs
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( William Schomberg | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The BoE's Monetary Policy Committee is facing an inflation rate more than double that of the euro zone and almost twice the U.S. rate. It voted by only a narrow 5-4 margin in September to halt its run of increases in borrowing costs. But signs of a slowdown in much of the British economy have become clearer since then and some economists say a recession might already be under way. The central bank said in its last set of economic forecasts in August that inflation would only return to 2% in the second quarter of 2025. But Bailey and his MPC colleagues are likely to reiterate that they are ready to raise rates higher if needed.

Persons: BoE, Mike Riddell, Riddell, Andrew Bailey, Bailey, Rishi Sunak, Sunak, Jeremy Hunt, Hunt, William Schomberg, Catherine Evans Organizations: Bank of England, European Central Bank, U.S . Federal Reserve, Allianz Global Investors, BoE, MPC, Conservative Party, Thomson Locations: U.S

☆ UK workers see record pay rises, but inflation eats them up
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Median weekly earnings for full-time employees fell by 1.5% on the year when adjusted for the Consumer Prices Index including owner occupiers' housing costs, the ONS said. Average weekly pay for all men rose by 6.8%, lagging behind a 9.1% increase for women, although the difference in pay growth was smaller when only full-time employees were considered. Median weekly full-time earnings for women were 13% lower than for men. Median gross annual earnings for all full-time employees rose 5.8% to 34,963 pounds ($42,452), a slightly smaller increase than 5.9% in the 12 months to April 2022. The Bank of England is worried that the face pace of pay growth in Britain could create a wage-price spiral.

Persons: Maja Smiejkowska, ASHE, William Schomberg, David Milliken Organizations: Boxing, REUTERS, Britain's, National Statistics, The Bank of England, Thomson Locations: London, Britain

☆ UK house prices show surprise rise in October - Nationwide
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( William Schomberg | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Prices increased by 0.9% from September when they had risen by a marginal 0.1%, Nationwide said. It was the biggest monthly increase since August 2022. Economists polled by Reuters had expected prices to fall by a monthly 0.4% and by 4.8% year on year. "The uptick in house prices in October most likely reflects the fact that the supply of properties on the market is constrained," Nationwide Chief Economist Robert Gardner said. "While some buyers are able to accept higher mortgage payments, helping to prop up house prices, their number is dwindling as shown by the drop in mortgage approvals in September," Pattison said.

Persons: Robert Gardner, BoE, Gardner, Imogen Pattison, Pattison, William Schomberg, Jason Neely Organizations: Nationwide, Reuters, Royal Institution, Chartered Surveyors, Bank of England's, Capital Economics, Thomson

HIGH INFLATION FALLS SLOWLYConsumer price inflation hit 11.1% in October 2022, which was higher than in comparable economies, and it has fallen more slowly too. But service price inflation, which the BoE watches closely, rose. Economists expect a big fall in headline inflation in October as last year's energy price surge fades from the comparison. However, the BoE issued a forecast in August saying inflation would return to 2% only in the second quarter of 2025. Financial markets do not see a more than 50% chance of the BoE cutting Bank Rate until August 2024.

Persons: BoE, Andrew Bailey, Reuters Graphics Reuters Graphics BOE, Huw Pill, William Schomberg, Sumanta Sen, Hugh Lawson Organizations: Bank of England, Reuters Graphics, HIT, Reuters Graphics Reuters Graphics, Financial, European Central Bank, Graphics, Thomson Locations: Britain, U.S

☆ Fall in UK jobs postings shows labour market is cooling, Adzuna says
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Online job adverts fell by 1.6% in September from August, bucking the usual end-of-summer bounce in job postings, and advertised salaries fell by the same amount, Adzuna said. "September traditionally sees a surge in job market activity but the figures we're seeing this year could signal a cooling off of the job market, which had shown signs of resilience earlier in the year," Adzuna co-founder Andrew Hunter said. The Office for National Statistics said earlier this month its measure of job vacancies fell to a two-year low of 988,000 in the three months to September. Separately on Monday, a survey showed small businesses recovering a bit of their lost confidence but the overall mood remained negative. Martin McTague, FSB's national chair, said the survey showed signs of stabilisation after 18 months of surging costs.

Persons: Adzuna, Andrew Hunter, BoE, Martin McTague, McTague, Suban Abdulla, William Schomberg, Andy Bruce Organizations: Bank of England, National Statistics, Federation of Small, Hospitality, Thomson

☆ Brentford stun Chelsea in 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-28 | by ( William Schomberg | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"The frustration is so massive," Pochettino told talkSPORT radio, saying a strong first-half performance gave way to a lack of calm after the break. Defender Marc Cucurella shot straight at Mark Flekken after a lofted pass by playmaker Cole Palmer. But Brentford soaked up everything Chelsea could throw at them with centre forward Nicolas Jackson, back in the starting 11 after an injury, unable to provide much of a threat. Brentford's third league win at Stamford Bridge in as many seasons meant that they leap-frogged their neighbours into 10th spot, while Chelsea dropped to 11th ahead of the rest of the weekend's fixtures. One name linked to the club is Brentford and England centre forward Ivan Toney who scored 20 times in the league last season but who is currently serving an eight-month ban for breaching betting rules.

Persons: Ethan Pinnock, Bryan Mbeumo, Mauricio Pochettino, Pochettino, Chelsea, Pinnock, Robert Sanchez, Thomas Tuchel, Graham Potter, Noni Madueke, Marc Cucurella, Mark Flekken, Cole Palmer, Nicolas Jackson, Ivan Toney, William Schomberg, Hugh Lawson Organizations: Brentford, Chelsea, Arsenal, Blues, Stamford, Thomson Locations: London, Argentine, U.S, England

☆ China accepts invitation to AI summit in Britain - Deputy UK PM
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

LONDON, Oct 26 (Reuters) - China has accepted Britain's invitation to attend a global summit on artificial intelligence next week, Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden said on Thursday. "It is the case they've accepted, but we will wait to see everyone who actually turns up at the summit," Dowden told the BBC. "As things stands, yes, we do expect them to come." Britain is bringing together representatives of AI companies, political leaders and experts on Nov. 1-2 to discuss what some see as the risks posed by AI, with an aim of building an international consensus on its safe development. Reporting by William James and Muvija M Editing by William SchombergOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Oliver Dowden, Dowden, William James, Muvija, William Schomberg Organizations: BBC, Thomson Locations: China, Britain

☆ BoE likely to keep high rates on hold even as signs of slowdown mount
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( William Schomberg | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The last Monetary Policy Committee meeting in September resulted in five members voting to pause, just outnumbering the four who sought another increase. So far, investors are not challenging the BoE's message that interest rates will stay high for a considerable period. BOE Chief Economist Huw Pill likened the outlook for monetary policy to the lofty, flat and long profile of Table Mountain during a visit to South Africa in late August. But economists expected little change in the BoE's previous forecasts that inflation will fall to 2% in two years' time. "Recent geopolitical events will probably induce a modicum of monetary policy caution, reinforcing the likelihood of unaltered policy settings," analysts at NatWest Markets said.

Persons: Hollie Adams, BoE, Andrew Bailey, James Smith, Smith, BOE, Huw Pill, Pill, Bailey, Rishi Sunak, Price, William Schomberg, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Bank of England, City of, REUTERS, Reuters, ING, Investors, U.S . Federal, Monetary Fund, NatWest Markets, Thomson Locations: City, City of London, Britain, South Africa

The BoE is monitoring the labour market closely as it considers whether it needs to resume raising interest rates, having kept them on hold in September after 14 hikes in a row. Under the previous methodology, the unemployment rate had been reported as 4.3% for the three months to July rather than 4.2%. Still, the new data showed more slack in the labour market than the BoE had predicted in August, when it forecast an unemployment rate of 4.1% for the third quarter as a whole. "It is probably only a matter of time before the recent loosening of the labour market feeds through into significantly slower wage growth," Pugh said. The latest ONS estimate showed employment fell by 133,000 in the three months to July, compared with 207,000 in its previous estimate.

Persons: BoE, Thomas Pugh, Pugh, Tony Wilson, Andy Bruce, William Schomberg, Paul Sandle, Bernadette Baum Organizations: Office, National Statistics, Bank of England, Labour Force Survey, RSM, ONS, Financial, Institute for Employment Studies, Thomson

☆ UK regular pay growth slows for first time since January
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( David Milliken | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Private-sector regular pay - the component looked at most closely by the BoE - saw annual growth slow to 8.0% in the three months to August, from 8.1%. Regular pay, adjusted for CPI inflation, grew by an annual 0.7% in the three months to August. Reuters GraphicsSLUGGISH ECONOMYBank of England Chief Economist Huw Pill said on Monday that fast rates of nominal pay growth stood at odds with most other labour market measures, which have pointed to a slowing economy. The number of job vacancies in the three months to September fell to a two-year low of 988,000, Tuesday's data showed. Unemployment figures and other related labour market data will not be published until Oct. 24, after the ONS said on Friday it needed more time to take account of low response rates.

Persons: Kevin Coombs, BoE, James Smith, Jeremy Hunt, Rishi Sunak, Huw Pill, payrolls, Ashley Webb, Webb, Sachin Ravikumar, William Schomberg, Bernadette Baum Organizations: REUTERS, LONDON, Bank of England, Britain's, National Statistics, Reuters, U.S, Bank, England's, ING, Private, of England, International Monetary, Capital Economics, Thomson Locations: Canary Wharf, London, Britain

High funding needs and central banks removing support are increasing pricing uncertainty for investors, Sophia Drossos, hedge fund Point72 Asset Management's chief economist, said. Spending plans lacking credibility were seen as most likely to spark market turmoil. I suspect not by default, but when markets start reflecting their worries in Treasury prices, by a political crisis and a potentially ugly adjustment," the former IMF chief economist said. "We need more investment, not less," said King's College London professor Jonathan Portes, Britain's cabinet office chief economist during the financial crisis. Not enough reforms are being implemented, OECD chief economist Clare Lombardelli warned.

Persons: Andrew Kelly, Peter Praet, Praet, Sophia Drossos, Daniel Ivascyn, Claudio Borio, Olivier Blanchard, Ray Dalio, Janet Yellen's, Yellen, Jim Leaviss, Giancarlo Giorgetti, Daleep Singh, Joe Biden, Britain's, Yellen's, Jonathan Portes, Clare Lombardelli, Moritz Kraemer, Yoruk Bahceli, Maria Martinez, Leigh Thomas, Giuseppe Fonte, Nell Mackenzie, Naomi Rovnick, William Schomberg, Jan Strupczewski, Dan Burns, Elisa Martinuzzi, Riddhima Talwani, Jayaram, Emelia Sithole Organizations: Financial, of, REUTERS, Institute of International Finance, Reuters, European Central Bank, ECB, Bank for International, Peterson Institute for International Economics, Associates, U.S . Treasury, Wall, Economy, Britain's Treasury, Congressional, Britain's, Institution, Reuters Graphics ACT, King's College London, Labour Party, OECD, Graphics, Thomson Locations: of Manhattan , New York City, U.S, Italy, Britain, United States, Europe, Ukraine, Berlin, Paris, Rome, London, Brussels, Washington, Marrakech

High funding needs and central banks removing support are increasing pricing uncertainty for investors, Sophia Drossos, hedge fund Point72 Asset Management's chief economist, said. Spending plans lacking credibility were seen as most likely to spark market turmoil. I suspect not by default, but when markets start reflecting their worries in Treasury prices, by a political crisis and a potentially ugly adjustment," the former IMF chief economist said. Italy's 2.4 trillion-euro debt pile is the focus in Europe, where the IMF has said high debt leaves governments vulnerable to crisis. "We need more investment, not less," said King's College London professor Jonathan Portes, Britain's cabinet office chief economist during the financial crisis.

☆ Asking prices of UK homes show smallest October rise since 2008
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON, Oct 16 (Reuters) - Asking prices for homes in Britain have risen at their slowest pace for the time of year since 2008, property website Rightmove said on Monday in a latest sign of how the climb in borrowing costs has slowed the housing market. Average asking prices for homes increased by 0.5% between Sept. 10 and Oct. 7 from the previous four weeks, well below the average increase for the period of 1.4%, Rightmove said. Prices were down 0.8% compared with a year earlier and the number of agreed sales was down 17% in annual terms. Other measures of Britain's housing market - which boomed during the COVID-19 pandemic - have also cooled with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors' measure of house prices showing the most widespread falls since 2009 in September. Reporting by William Schomberg; editing by William JamesOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Rightmove, Tim Bannister, William Schomberg, William James Our Organizations: Royal Institution, Chartered Surveyors, Bank of England, Thomson Locations: Britain

☆ UK CFOs lose their appetite for debt after rates climb -Deloitte
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A similar proportion said debt sales were unattractive while equity finance became more popular. "Higher interest rates have flipped a decade-old consensus which was previously in favour of debt finance," Ian Stewart, chief economist at Deloitte, said. "Finance leaders are preparing for a period of high interest rates with predicted rates falling only slightly over the next year." The Bank of England raised rates 14 times in a row between December 2021 and August this year, before pausing its increases in September. The CFOs quizzed by Deloitte on average expected the BoE to cut Bank Rate to 4.75% in a year's time from 5.25% now.

Persons: Suzanne Plunkett, Ian Stewart, Top BoE, BoE, William Schomberg, Kylie MacLellan Organizations: REUTERS, Finance, Deloitte, Bank of, Thomson Locations: London, Bank of England, Israel

☆ Actor Michael Caine says he is retiring aged 90
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Actor Sir Michael Caine arrives at the world premiere of King of Thieves in London, Britain, September 12, 2018. REUTERS/James Akena/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Oct 14 (Reuters) - British actor and two-time Oscar winner Michael Caine has said he will retire from acting, aged 90, following the release of his latest film. Well I am now," Caine told BBC radio in an interview broadcast on Saturday. "I've figured I've had a picture where I've played the lead and had incredible reviews... What am I going to do that will beat this?" Or maybe 85," Caine told the BBC.

Persons: Sir Michael Caine, King, James Akena, Oscar, Michael Caine, Caine, I've, Glenda Jackson, Hannah, Alfie, Carter, Rita, William Schomberg, Sharon Singleton Organizations: REUTERS, BBC, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, British, France

☆ Palestine Supporters March in London Against Israel Action in Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-14 | by ( Oct. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON (Reuters) - Thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators marched in central London on Saturday, calling for an end to Israel's military action in the Gaza Strip which was triggered by last weekend's rampage in Israel by the Hamas militant group. Chants were aimed at the governments of Britain and the United States for supporting Israel. Belal Stitan, a 22 year-old student, said he was fearful for his relatives in Gaza. "This situation is a big, big problem for humanity and for me to have to say to the world, remember that we are human beings ..., I can't believe that we are here." Police issued warnings before the "March for Palestine" that anyone with a flag expressing support for Hamas or other groups proscribed as terrorist by Britain would be arrested.

Persons: Rishi Sunak, Belal, Natalie Thomas, Will Russell, William Schomberg, Christina Fincher Organizations: Palestinian, Oxford Circus, British, Israel, Police, Palestine, BBC Locations: London, Gaza, Israel, Britain, United States

☆ BoE's Bailey says he's puzzled by stubborn pay growth in UK
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

People walk outside the Bank of England in the City of London financial district in London, Britain May 11, 2023. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsMARRAKECH, Morocco, Oct 14 (Reuters) - Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey said on Saturday he was puzzled by the continued strength of pay growth in Britain which, unlike other areas of the economy, has not yet responded to the BoE's run of 14 back-to-back interest rate hikes. The increases in borrowing costs were having an impact on employment numbers and in the housing market, Bailey told a panel discussion on the sidelines of International Monetary Fund meetings in Morocco. "I should say what is more puzzling and in a sense we wait to see is the situation on pay and earnings where... the usual transmission mechanism is not yet being demonstrated," he said during the event organised by the Group of 30 consultative body. Reporting by Balazs Koranyi Writing by William SchombergOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Henry Nicholls, Andrew Bailey, Bailey, Balazs Koranyi, William Schomberg Organizations: Bank of England, REUTERS, Rights, International Monetary Fund, Group, Thomson Locations: City, London, Britain, Rights MARRAKECH, Morocco

☆ Palestine supporters march in London against Israel action in Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] Demonstrators protest in solidarity with Palestinians, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in London, Britain, October 14, 2023. REUTERS/Susannah Ireland Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Oct 14 (Reuters) - Thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators marched in central London on Saturday, calling for an end to Israel's military action in the Gaza Strip which was triggered by last weekend's rampage in Israel by the Hamas militant group. Chants were aimed at the governments of Britain and the United States for supporting Israel. Belal Stitan, a 22 year-old student, said he was fearful for his relatives in Gaza. Reporting by Natalie Thomas and Will Russell Writing by William Schomberg Editing by Christina FincherOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Susannah Ireland, Rishi Sunak, Belal, Natalie Thomas, Will Russell, William Schomberg, Christina Fincher Organizations: Hamas, REUTERS, Palestinian, Oxford Circus, British, Israel, Police, Palestine, BBC, Thomson Locations: Israel, Palestinian, London, Britain, Gaza, United States

☆ BoE's Bailey says future rate decisions will be 'tight'
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Governor of the Bank of England Andrew Bailey attends a press conference for the Monetary Policy Report August 2023, at the Bank of England in London, Britain, August 3, 2023. Bailey echoed recent comments from other BoE officials who have stressed they are keeping their options open for future rate decisions after the Monetary Policy Committee voted 5-4 to halt its run of back-to-back rate hikes in September. Only a quarter of economists polled by Reuters late last month thought the MPC would vote to raise Bank Rate again on Nov. 2. "The last mile really does lean heavily on... restrictive policy," Bailey said, adding the economic outlook appeared "very subdued". Britain's potential growth rate - the pace at which the economy can grow without generating excess inflation - was "substantially less" than in the past, something that would continue to weigh on monetary policy, Bailey said.

Persons: Bank of England Andrew Bailey, Alastair Grant, Andrew Bailey, Bailey, BoE, Huw Pill, Ben Broadbent, Balazs Koranyi, Andy Bruce, William Schomberg Organizations: Bank of England, Monetary, Rights, Reuters, Institute of International Finance, International Monetary Fund, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, Rights MARRAKECH, Morocco, Marrakech

☆ UK banks see less lending in Q4, expect more defaults: BoE survey
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

People walk outside the Bank of England in London, Britain, September 21, 2023. REUTERS/Peter Nicholls/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Oct 12 (Reuters) - British lenders expect to curb the availability of mortgages in the next three months, a Bank of England survey showed on Thursday. The BoE's quarterly Credit Conditions Survey also showed lenders thought defaults on secured loans and on credit cards and other loans would increase. Reporting by William SchombergOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Peter Nicholls, William Schomberg Organizations: Bank of England, REUTERS, Thomson Locations: London, Britain

Official data showed economic output expanded by 0.2% in August from July, matching the median forecast in a Reuters poll of economists. "The UK economy is holding up but remains in a precarious state," said David Bharier, head of research at the British Chambers of Commerce. The data showed Britain's huge services sector grew by a slightly stronger than expected 0.4% in August from July while manufacturing and construction shrank by 0.8% and 0.5%. Investors are putting a chance of less than one in four on the BoE resuming its rate hikes after its next scheduled meeting in November. Britain's economy stood 2.1% bigger than in February 2020, just before the coronavirus pandemic hit, the ONS said.

Persons: Matthew Childs, Sterling, Elizabeth's, BoE, David Bharier, William Schomberg, Andy Bruce, Kate Holton Organizations: REUTERS, Bank of England, Monetary Fund, Chambers of Commerce, European Union, ONS, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, Miral

☆ UK housing market challenging but rate pause offers hope -RICS
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) house price balance, which measures the difference between the percentage of surveyors seeing rises and falls in house prices, edged down to -69 after August's sharp drop to -68. Echoing other gauges of British house prices, RICS' latest figure was the weakest since February 2009 and was below the median forecast of -63 in a Reuters poll of economists. Britain's housing market boomed during the coronavirus pandemic as demand for homes with more space surged, but it has been a victim of the BoE's run of 14 interest rate hikes, which began in December 2021. "Although the decision to pause monetary policy tightening a few weeks ago provided a glimmer of relief for the market, interest rates are likely now set to remain on hold for a prolonged period," Parsons said. The weak state of the housing market has hurt companies such as building materials supplier Travis Perkins (TPK.L), which on Wednesday downgraded its annual profit forecast by as much as 27%.

Persons: Henry Nicholls, RICS, Tarrant Parsons, Parsons, Travis Perkins, William Schomberg, Kylie MacLellan Organizations: REUTERS, Bank, Royal Institution, Chartered Surveyors, Thomson Locations: London, Britain

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