“UK economy ekes out growth in August but not enough to prompt more rate rises”

Oct 12, 2023 | Economy

An independent (financial adviser’s) view

Great news, our economy grew in August! Well, only on the face of it, apparently. You might think that a growing economy would be a good thing, a sign of prosperity, proof, as our esteemed Chancellor would say ‘that the naysayers are wrong’. O.2% growth, however, is not enough to show that we’re likely to avoid a recession as the economy shrunk in July by more than it grew in August. And another however, had it grown by more than 0.2%, the Bank of England might well choose to put up interest rates again to make sure there is a recession and so bring inflation down. The only time, it seems, that a boom can be a good thing is when it follows a bust. Inevitably, it then becomes a bad thing and we need another bust to cure it. There has to be a better way. Surely.

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“Rachel Reeves may be forced to raise taxes”

“Rachel Reeves may be forced to raise taxes”

Why did she/they (in the old sense) think that tinkering around with IHT and CGT would be enough to sort out the NHS; and the potholes; and…and the list goes on. My guess is  that they asked the Treasury for a list of anything not involving income tax that they could get away with lightly, although they should already have learned from the winter fuel stuff that all publicity is not good publicity.