Economic Review February 2026
Office for National Statistics reported subdued late-2025 growth, but PMI signals stronger first-quarter expansion Inflation fell to 3.0%, raising expectations that Bank of England may cut rates soon FTSE 100 reached record highs as public finances posted a surprise January surplus Survey highlights signs of encouragement Although Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures released last […]
News in Review
Latest ONS data shows the Consumer Prices Index fell to its lowest level since last March ONS retail data shows sales volumes rose by 1.8% in January – the strongest monthly growth since May 2024 President Trump said he intends to impose global tariffs of 15%, escalating his response to a Supreme Court ruling “Inflation fell markedly in January” The latest inflation data from […]
Commercial Property Review – February 2026
High demand for office space – research shows office space is currently the most in-demand commercial property asset class London offices update – office take-up in the capital marks London’s strongest performance since 2019 The (in)efficiency of commercial buildings – analysis indicates 81% of UK city commercial buildings have a low EPC rating High demand for office spaces Recent data shows that office space is attracting the highest […]
News in Review
In its first meeting of the year, the Monetary Policy Committee voted to retain Bank Rate at 3.75% According to Halifax, the average house price has surpassed £300,000 for the first time S&P Global data shows that the UK services sector experienced strong growth in January “We now think that inflation will fall back to around 2% by the spring” In […]
News in Review
Keir Starmer claims China visit successful in rebuilding ties and securing visa-free travel and whisky tax cuts The government has revised its business rates following a backlash from pubs and music venues The Lifetime ISA is expected to be replaced by a new product due to launch in April 2028 “China is a vital player on the global stage and it is vital that we build a more […]
Economic Review January 2026
UK economic momentum strengthened into 2026, with GDP rebounding and business surveys signalling improving private sector confidence Inflation ticked higher in December, but economists expect the rise to fade as temporary factors unwind Markets delivered solid January gains despite volatility, while labour demand softened and consumer confidence edged higher UK growth rate stronger than expected […]
News in Review
Trump “won’t use force” to seize Greenland – which came as a relief to global leaders and markets, after a challenging period With geopolitical risk dominating, WEF President cautioned that tensions could have a detrimental effect on global growth Price pressures are set to ease noticeably this year, particularly as the impact of last year’s energy and utility price hikes […]
Commercial Property Review – January 2026
Office demand stays strong — investors favour offices, though tenants are more selective on location Retail outperformed in 2025 — strong occupier markets and highest total returns, with investment volumes expected to pick up in 2026 Hotel investment slowed but resilient — single-asset deals kept momentum; outlook for 2026 is stronger with more portfolio activity Commercial property trends for 2026 […]
News in Review
Trump’s Greenland stance fuels NATO tensions and tariff threats, unsettling markets ahead of the World Economic Forum World Bank forecasts modest yet resilient global growth, while warning the 2020s may be the weakest decade since 1960s UK economic data shows slight momentum, with housing sentiment improving as borrowing cost expectations shape 2026 outlook “Any decision […]
News in Review
Scotland’s draft Budget raises Income Tax thresholds, adds new Council Tax bands and prioritises healthcare and family support Additional measures include college funding increases, primary school breakfast clubs and major capital investment across infrastructure Halifax data shows UK house prices fell again in December, with values and annual growth both continuing to soften “This is a government that wants what’s best for […]