MercoPress, en Español

Montevideo, March 28th 2024 - 11:56 UTC

 

 

UK admits economy contraction and announces a bold package of stimulus measures

Friday, August 5th 2016 - 12:07 UTC
Full article 18 comments
Bank of England also announced a program of cheap lending to banks to make sure they are financially able to in turn lend to people and businesses at low rates. Bank of England also announced a program of cheap lending to banks to make sure they are financially able to in turn lend to people and businesses at low rates.
“This is the appropriate response to the economic conditions we find ourselves in,” the Bank of England’s governor, Mark Carney, told a news conference. “This is the appropriate response to the economic conditions we find ourselves in,” the Bank of England’s governor, Mark Carney, told a news conference.
Treasury chief Chancellor Philip Hammond also said he was “prepared to take any necessary steps to support the economy and promote confidence.”. Treasury chief Chancellor Philip Hammond also said he was “prepared to take any necessary steps to support the economy and promote confidence.”.

The Bank of England has unveiled a series of stimulus measures in the wake of Brexit, including its first interest rate cut since the global financial crisis (2009), as it tries to jumpstart an economy shocked by Britain’s vote to leave the European Union.

 The central bank cut its key rate to 0.25% from a previous record low of 0.5%. It is also restarting its bond-buying stimulus program to pump an additional 60 billion pounds (US$79 billion) in new money into the economy. It will buy up to another 10 billion pounds in U.K. corporate bonds – or bonds sold by companies to finance their activities – to help them borrow more cheaply.

The Bank of England further announced a program of cheap lending to banks to make sure they are financially able to in turn lend to people and businesses at low rates.

“This is the appropriate response to the economic conditions we find ourselves in,” the Bank of England’s governor, Mark Carney, told a news conference.

He added that all of the measures “have scope for further action.” That includes another cut to interest rates “close to, but a little above, zero” if incoming economic data proves broadly consistent with the new forecasts the Bank of England compiled Thursday.

The measures seemed to exceed the expectations of investors. The value of the British pound fell sharply on the news, as lower rates tend to weigh on a currency.

Thursday’s decision underscored the bank’s concern about an economy that has taken a sharp turn lower since the vote to leave the EU, which creates uncertainties for businesses about the country’s future trade relations with the rest of the bloc. Early indicators since the June 23 vote suggest that the economy is contracting at its sharpest rate since 2009.

Some experts argue there is only so much the central bank can do to help the economy – that even with lower interest rates, businesses and households will remain worried about the future so long as the Brexit talks with EU drag on.

Treasury chief Chancellor Philip Hammond hinted a fiscal boost was possible, saying in a letter to Carney on Thursday that he was “prepared to take any necessary steps to support the economy and promote confidence.”.

The central bank slashed its growth forecasts from next year onwards, underscoring the contraction underway. It predicted the economy would grow only 0.8% next year, compared with the 2.3% it had previously predicted. The cut its forecast for 2018 to 1.8% from 2.3%.

Categories: Economy, International.

Top Comments

Disclaimer & comment rules
  • Briton

    According to some, we should go now and forsake the pain ,

    After all, the longer we stay, the more chances we have of sinking with them.

    Aug 05th, 2016 - 06:46 pm 0
  • Voice

    You voted out Briton...
    You are responsible for this outcome...
    Did you really believe all the BS that the UK would be better out...?

    Aug 05th, 2016 - 08:21 pm 0
  • Englander

    “you are responsible for this outcome”

    Yeah......but don't forget the other 17million others.

    Democracy is great isn't it?

    Aug 05th, 2016 - 09:22 pm 0
Read all comments

Commenting for this story is now closed.
If you have a Facebook account, become a fan and comment on our Facebook Page!