Initial reports from the UK high street during the festive period were mildly encouraging. Witness stronger than expected outturns from John Lewis and Next. Still, it is premature to draw strong conclusions about retailing.
Christmas
Weekly Brief – Christmas bonus
UK workers received a Christmas bonus with the highest wage growth for a decade reported last week. The labour market is yet again the star performer in an economy that is otherwise losing a little momentum.
Economy to Away in a Manger
We wish all of our readers a Merry Christmas, to the tune of Away in a Manger. We’ll be back in January 2017. Continue reading
Driving home for Christmas and pulling a cracker set to be cheapest in years…
The festive season is the time of the year when consumers perhaps feel under most pressure to spend. And this Christmas, they might be more inclined to do so, as 2015 has been the best year for household finances since 2008.