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Disappointing GDP data in July, as the recovery slows

Date: 13th September 2021

In this Perspective Ruth Lea, Economic Adviser to the Arbuthnot Banking Group, discusses the latest UK data:
  • GDP rose a disappointing 0.1% (MOM) in July and was still 2.1% lower than in pre-pandemic February 2020.
  • Services were flat in July, whilst production rose, bolstered by a recovery in oil field production. Construction output fell for the fourth consecutive month.
  • There was a modest deterioration in the trade balance in July. Exports to the EU fell by 6.5% (MOM), whilst exports to the non-EU rose by 5.0%.
  • Markit indicators suggested continuing growth in August, though growth slowed for services and construction compared with July. Manufacturing was little changed. The surveys noted continued business concerns about staff and supply shortages and inflationary pressures. However, all three sectors remained optimistic about prospects.
  • The SMMT reported weak new car registrations in August.
  • The Halifax reported house prices rose by 0.7% (MOM) in August, to be 7.1% higher YOY.
  • The HMRC reported that the number of employments (sic) on furlough was 1.56mn on 31 July 2021, some 340,000 lower (MOM) than on 30 June. The number had peaked at 8.9mn on 8 May 2020. The furlough scheme is due to end on 30 September 2021.
  • In giving evidence to the Treasury Select Committee, the Bank Governor said the end of the furlough scheme should help with current worries about 'getting jobs filled' but added that, while other pressures on the economy caused by supply chain bottlenecks and higher commodity prices looked likely to fade, he had a 'bit more concern about persistence in the labour market story'. On the economy generally he noted that '…at the moment we are seeing some levelling off in the recovery.'
Other UK news:
  • The Chancellor launched the Spending Review 2021 on 7 September, which will set budgets for FY2022-FY2024. The Review will be released on 27 October, the same day as the Budget.
  • The PM announced the Plan for Health and Social Care on 7 September, in which around £12bn a year of additional taxation will be raised to provide extra resources for health and social care. Around £1.8bn a year will be allocated to social care.
  • A UK-wide 1.25% Health and Social Care Levy based on National Insurance contributions (NICs) will be introduced. The Levy will be effectively introduced from April 2022 (FY2022), when NICs for working age employees, self-employed and employers will increase by 1.25%. From April 2023 (FY2023), the 1.25% Levy will be formally separated out and will also apply to individuals working above State Pension age, and NICs rates will return to their FY2021 levels. The rates of dividend tax will also be increased by 1.25% from April 2022.
International update:
  • The ECB moderately slowed the pace of net asset purchases under the pandemic emergency purchase programme (PEPP) at its September meeting. Policy was otherwise left unchanged.
  • The ECB upgraded its GDP forecasts in September compared with June and raised its inflation forecasts. Higher inflation was assessed to be driven by 'temporary upward factors'.
Ruth Lea said 'The increase in July's GDP was disappointing. However, the 'pingdemic', with associated staff absences, operated throughout the month, with the relaxation of the self-isolation requirements of those contacted by Test and Trace only lifted on 16 August. Growth should, therefore, improve in August and recovery should be sustained. But it is clear that growth has slowed significantly since earlier in the year. Granted the Markit surveys suggested some overall slowing in August compared with July, but this does not invalidate Markit's findings, or indeed the ONS's data, as there are timing and coverage differences'.

For full story: http://www.arbuthnotgroup.com/economic_perspectives_group.html

Press enquiries:

Arbuthnot Banking Group PLC:

Ruth Lea, Economic Adviser
07800 608 674, 020 8346 3482
ruthlea@arbuthnot.co.uk
Follow Ruth on Twitter @RuthLeaEcon

Maitland:
Sam Cartwright
020 7379 4415
arbuthnot@maitland.co.uk

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Arbuthnot Banking Group plc published this content on 13 September 2021 and is solely responsible for the information contained therein. Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 13 September 2021 09:21:10 UTC.