All interest rates articles
-
NewsInflation and interest rates continue to blunt growth, Gleeds report warns
The consultancy firm鈥檚 latest survey also reveals that a majority of contractors predict there will be a Labour victory at the next general election
-
NewsBank of England鈥檚 鈥榮hock鈥� recession warning could spook investors
Some construction sectors could fare much worse than others, say analysts
-
CommentHousing market: more stable but still fragile
Prices shouldn't fall too much in 2011 provided interest rates and unemployment doesn't rise
-
CommentHouse prices flatline in a fragile market, but what does this mean for construction?
House prices are stable but that doesn鈥檛 mean an upward supply of housing
-
CommentIt's not looking good for house prices in 2011
House prices dropped by 1.6% in 2010 and will continue falling according to Halifax figures
-
Comment
The problem with surprises on inflation
Could it be that we are about to witness the beginnings of widening concerns over rising inflation?The Consumer Prices Index 鈥渟urprise鈥� jump to 3.7% yesterday will certainly increase rumblings in the markets and elsewhere.Although for the time being I suspect attention will be more focused on June 22 and ...
-
Comment
The big question for Mr Shapps
I would like to be among those welcoming Grant Shapps to his new role as housing minister and wishing him well. I must admit I have not been particularly kind to his ideas to date. It鈥檚 my job to be critical I guess.But for the record I do have a ...
-
Comment
We're back to double-digit growth in house prices, oh dear
House prices are booming again, crack open the champagne!Well maybe not.If I was a house builder reading the latest survey from the Nationwide building society showing a double-digit rise in prices over the past year (see graph) I would be worried.Looking at my short-term prospects, naturally I would be chirpy ...
-
Comment
Latest construction forecasts suggest there is more to fear than hope for
The latest round of forecasting by construction experts paints a picture little changed from three months ago with little hope of significant growth, much uncertainty and the risks to growth heavily weighted on the down side.The general pattern they expect can be seen from the graph (right).It shows that after ...
-
Comment
More home sellers, fewer home letters - a housing market in flux
How should we read yesterday鈥檚 Rightmove figures showing the slowest ever March pick up in asking prices?They appear to be consistent with much of what else we are seeing in the market 鈥� a growing body of evidence that the recent bounce back in the housing market is faltering (see ...
-
Comment
Was it just the cold or is it a relapse?
There are plenty of people, 鈥渆xperts鈥� indeed, who fully expect a double-dip recession for both the economy and, for that matter, house prices.For them the data emerging for January鈥檚 performance appears to be, albeit gently, vindicating their position. They will no doubt seize with alacrity the retail figures from the ...
-
Comment
The cruelty of breeding force-fed first-time buyers
Here's a question that goes right to the heart of current housing policy: Should we be using incentives as readily as we are to encourage first-time buyers onto the property ladder?However iconoclastic or contrary this question may seem, it needs to be asked. There is so much at stake.Promoting first-time ...