Please see below article received from EPIC Investment Partners this morning, which provides a global market update.
This morning, we heard that UK inflation fell to 2.3% in April, the lowest level in nearly three years, as easing energy and food costs provided relief to households. However, the smaller-than-expected decline dampened hopes of an imminent interest rate cut by the Bank of England. Analysts had forecast a sharper drop to 2.1%, leading markets to trim predictions of a 25bp rate reduction as early as next month.
The drop in the headline CPI from 3.2% in March was driven by falling energy bills (a sharp fall in the energy price cap), coupled with the cost of goods declining by 0.8%. Nonetheless, services inflation, a key measure watched by the BoE, came in hot, rising 5.9%, indicating the inflationary bug has spread through the economy. With wage growth also robust, economists warn the BoE may exercise caution at its upcoming meeting, as elevated services inflation poses an upward risk to inflationary pressures in the second half of the year.
Ahead of the figures, the IMF upgraded its UK growth forecast to 0.7% for this year, from 0.5%, estimating a 1.5% expansion in 2025. The organisation expects inflation to near 2% in the coming months, predicting that the BoE will cut rates by as much as 75bps this year and 100bps in 2025, taking rates to 3.5% by the end of next year. The IMF also explicitly warned of further national insurance contribution cuts “given their significant cost.” The Fund also warned that the UK government is not on track to meet its main fiscal rule, i.e., reducing national debt in five years’ time, predicting net debt will continue to rise to 97% of GDP, instead of falling to 93% of GDP as forecast by the UK.
Across the pond, supply chain disruptions continue to plague businesses across the United States, according to a recent survey conducted by the New York Fed. The survey, a follow-up to a similar poll in October 2021, revealed that about a third of service companies and nearly half of manufacturers are still struggling to obtain necessary supplies. This has hampered production, with many firms reducing output and raising prices in response – a troubling development as the Fed battles stubbornly high inflation.
The survey results align with the New York Fed’s Global Supply Chain Pressure Index, which has tracked supply availability since 2021. However, there has been a slight divergence in the past few months, potentially indicating that inflationary pressures tied to stronger demand are building again. This is evident in the rising container shipping rates, with the spot rate for a 40-foot container from Asia to the US West Coast now more than double the level a year ago and nearly triple the pre-pandemic average.
Lastly, for those of you in need of a giggle, the winner of the Beano’s Britain’s Funniest Class competition went to the Year 6 class at Northside Primary School in North Finchley, London:
What’s the hottest area in the classroom? The corner – because it’s 90 degrees.
In response, Mike Stirling, director of mischief at The Beano, said: “Year Six, Northside Primary School found the funniest angle overall and are deservedly now immortalised in Beanotown”.
Please check in again with us soon for further relevant content and market news.
Chloe
22/05/2024