Economic Review February 2021

UK economy poised for recovery Although the latest gross domestic product (GDP) statistics revealed the UK suffered a record slump in 2020, there are now growing hopes the economy is on the cusp of recovery. Figures published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), showed the UK endured a record fall in output last year as coronavirus restrictions ravaged the Read More

Residential Property Review – February 2021

House price growth slows Several recent reports have confirmed that house price growth is slowing, but there are reasons to believe that the housing market will be more stable than last year. According to Knight Frank, the third lockdown and the imminent end of the Stamp Duty holiday have played a major part in delaying a certain amount of activity Read More

Economic Review January 2021

Vaccinations provide economic hope Although recently released data has revealed a decline in UK economic activity, Bank of England (BoE) Governor Andrew Bailey, has expressed hopes that the vaccine roll-out programme will begin to spark a “pronounced recovery.” The latest gross domestic product (GDP) figures published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed the UK economy shrank by 2.6% Read More

Residential Property Review – January 2021

Momentum in residential market expected to slow The UK residential property market closed 2020 with a bang, with Nationwide reporting annual house price growth of 7.3% in December – a six-year high. In its December UK Residential Market Survey, however, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has pointed to evidence that momentum is starting to fade. While current activity Read More

Economic Review December 2020

Brexit trade talks Following a gruelling nine-month negotiation process, the UK and EU finally agreed and signed a post-Brexit trade deal just a day before the transition period ended. Although the UK officially left the EU on 31 January 2020, trade had continued on the same basis during the 11-month transition period. The two entities moved to new arrangements at Read More

Residential Property Review – December 2020

Positive start for property market in 2021 The property market is expected to start 2021 with a bang, according to experts. Low interest rates, combined with the imminent expiry of both the existing Help to Buy scheme and the Stamp Duty holiday, mean that the market is expected to be busier than ever going into the New Year. Zoopla has Read More

Economic Review November 2020

Spending Review Chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced government spending plans for the coming 12 months as part of his Spending Review, delivered to the House of Commons on 25 November. During his statement, Mr Sunak said the government had already spent £280bn supporting the economy through the pandemic and pledged a further £55bn over the coming year as part of Read More

Residential Property Review – November 2020

Housing market activity remains strong The October ‘UK Residential Market Survey‘ from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) reported another strong month for the housing market across the UK. The survey feedback indicated that buyer enquiries, agreed sales, new instructions and prices have all remained firm. A net balance of +46% of respondents cited an increase in new buyer Read More