News in Review
September’s growth rate marks the weakest annual pace since December 2025 and is attributed to the ongoing economic uncertainty The number of sub-5% fixed mortgage deals fell by 99% in September, with average fixed mortgage rates reaching their highest level in 3 years “Businesses across the UK are telling us they see opportunities to grow… […]
Economic Review – September 2026
The Bank of England kept interest rates unchanged at 3.75% in September but warned of potential rates rise The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) expects global GDP to grow by 2.9% in 2026 The Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported public sector borrowing of £18.3bn, £2.9bn more than a year earlier Interest rates […]
News in Review
To raise funds for the UK’s National Care Services, the triple lock will be adjusted from April 2030, rising every year by inflation or 2.5%, whichever is higher The latest OECD outlook has projected a rise in global GDP for 2026 and forecasts the UK economy will grow by 1.1% The head of the International […]
News in Review
In its MPC summary, the Bank of England said it expects inflation to rise further in the coming months In the US, the Federal Reserve is also working to slow inflation, resulting in the first rate increase since 2023 The Chancellor has sought entry to the EU’s ‘Made in Europe’ programme, protecting industries from unfair […]
Commercial Property Review – September 2026
Commercial property update – London captured the largest regional share of investment by the end of August Industrial and logistics sector – Demand in the sector still being driven by ecommerce growth and supply chain resilience Scottish market – French investors are particularly active in Aberdeen, according to research from Knight Frank Commercial property market […]
News in Review
The UK economy unexpectedly grew by 0.4% in the three months to July, according to the latest data from ONS Brent crude and US oil rose above $100, with both benchmarks reaching their highest prices since May Mayors and local leaders in England will be given new powers to charge a levy on overnight stays […]
News in Review
The Chancellor has acknowledged financial conditions are difficult but his “first priority” is to control borrowing and reduce pressure However, UK business confidence reached a five-month high last month, increasing to 53%, the highest level since March The UK manufacturing sector stalled slightly last month, but there was moderate expansion of the overall service sector […]
News in Review
In August, home searches were up 7%, marking the strongest annual increase in 12 months According to a trade body survey, 37% of the hospitality sector believes the new government will provide a boost Retail sales volumes fell further last month, with activity falling from a weighted balance of -26% in July to -48% in […]
Economic Review – August 2026
Recent data shows the UK second-quarter growth was more resilient than anticipated – 0.4% growth The latest Labour Market Overview published by ONS in August painted a muted picture of the UK jobs market According to ONS, consumer spending slowed as the volume of goods sold fell by 0.5% over the month UK second-quarter growth […]
Commercial Property Review – August 2026
Office occupancy – AI firms are helping to drive demand for office space in Central London Hotel sector – UK hotel investment volumes reached approx. £2.1bn in the first half of 2026 Retail – Retail park vacancy rates hit a record low, with 1.8% of the total UK floor space currently available Office sector update […]