Confusing messages
Posted: 18 Sep 2013, 17:05
The Bank of England has upgraded its growth forecast from 0.5% to 0.7% based on good trading figures. It is also going to keep interest rates on hold and not provide and more economic stimulus measures. So far so good.
On the flip side there is evidence that house prices are rising a lot faster than inflation, though the picture is patchy. Two government schemes, the Funding for Lending Scheme and the Help to Buy scheme, are driving down mortgage rates and driving up new house purchases. There might not be housing boom yet, according to Osborne, but one is surely on its way. When that happens the BoE will have to step in.
And another set of disappointing figures is out there for the three main parties - membership has fallen to new lows. For the Conservatives it has halved under Cameron. However, UKIP is showing strongly and is not that far behind the LibDems.
It looks like the GE is all to play for.
On the flip side there is evidence that house prices are rising a lot faster than inflation, though the picture is patchy. Two government schemes, the Funding for Lending Scheme and the Help to Buy scheme, are driving down mortgage rates and driving up new house purchases. There might not be housing boom yet, according to Osborne, but one is surely on its way. When that happens the BoE will have to step in.
And another set of disappointing figures is out there for the three main parties - membership has fallen to new lows. For the Conservatives it has halved under Cameron. However, UKIP is showing strongly and is not that far behind the LibDems.
It looks like the GE is all to play for.