Pantheon Macroeconomics

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U.K. Publications

Below is a list of our U.K. Publications for the last 6 months. If you are looking for reports older than 6 months please email info@pantheonmacro.com, or contact your account rep

Please use the filters on the right to search for a specific date or topic.

energy

23 Nov 2022 UK Monitor The Chances of Public Borrowing Falling Below 3% of GDP are Remote

  • Borrowing undershot the consensus in October due to the timing and under-recording of energy support.
  • The OBR's GDP forecasts assume an implausibly low saving rate and too rapid productivity growth...
  • ...Plans for very tight public spending won't be stuck to; borrowing eventually will settle at about 4% of GDP.

Samuel Tombs (UK Economist)U.K.

22 Nov 2022 UK Monitor The Stabilisation of Retail Sales in Q4 will Prove to be a False Dawn

  • Retail sales might hold steady in Q4, given the boost to disposable incomes from reversing the NI hike...
  • ...But they likely will fall again in 2023, as real incomes are hit hard by the rapid withdrawal of fiscal support.
  • A risk premium no longer is priced-in to gilts and sterling, but new strains might emerge if energy prices surge.

Gabriella DickensU.K.

18 Nov 2022 UK Monitor The Cliff-Edge in Energy Price Support Next Year will Aggravate the Recession

  • Most of the spending cuts and tax rises announced by Mr. Hunt do not kick-in until after the next election...
  • ...But the rapid withdrawal of energy price support next year will ensure that the economy remains in recession.
  • Mr. Hunt has less fiscal headroom than his predecessors; further adverse shocks will be met with extra cuts.

Samuel Tombs (UK Economist)U.K.

15 Nov 2022 UK Monitor Brace for an Above-Consensus CPI Inflation Print for October

  • We look for an above-consensus jump in CPI inflation to 10.9% in October, from 10.2% in September.
  • Food prices continued to rise quickly and energy prices soared; core CPI inflation likely remained high too.
  • The BRC’s non-food shop prices index leapt; services inflation likely was supported by education and rents.

Samuel Tombs (UK Economist)U.K.

7 Nov 2022 UK Monitor Forecast Review, Same Dismal Outlook, but a Different Mix of Drivers

  • The U-turn in the direction of fiscal policy has offset the better news on the outlook for borrowing costs.
  • Plausible assumptions suggest Autumn Statement measures will inflict a 0.3% blow to GDP in 2023/24.
  • A halving of energy price support for households in April would raise the path for CPI inflation by about 2.0pp.

Samuel Tombs (UK Economist)U.K.

31 Oct 2022 U.K. Monitor No Shortage of Scary Charts Foretelling a Haunting 2023

  • Rising mortgage rates, energy prices and unemploy- ment will all drain the life from the economy next year.
  • Real government spending will be strangled in each of the next three years, in order to get the debt ratio falling.
  • A further rise in long-term sickness will be another un- welcome shock; no escaping a prolonged recession.

Samuel Tombs (UK Economist)U.K.

28 Oct 2022 UK Monitor How will the Government Phase Out the Costly Energy Price Guarantee

  • Wholesale prices imply it would cost £65B to maintain the Energy Price Guarantee from Q2 until Q3 2024.
  • Simply removing it, however, would inflict a near-3% income blow on households in April; that's not realistic.
  • Scrapping standing charges would limit prices, cap the Treasury's exposure, and encourage energy efficiency.

Samuel Tombs (UK Economist)U.K.

20 Oct 2022 UK Monitor Emerging Spare Capacity will Eventually Crush Core Inflation

  • September’s data showed no let up in the rate of core price rises; the MPC will continue to hike rates quickly.
  • Core CPI inflation, however, will ease soon; firms have too much stock, and demand is about to plunge.
  • The outlook for energy CPI inflation is unclear again, but rising unemployment will let the MPC focus on the core.

Samuel Tombs (UK Economist)U.K.

19 Oct 2022 UK Monitor Scrapping the Energy Price Guarantee Would Transform the Inflation Outlook

  • We’ll need to raise our forecast for CPI inflation in Q2 2023 by 5pp, if Ofgem’s unsubsidised price cap returns.
  • One option for the government is to maintain grants for low income households; these wouldn’t lower the CPI.
  • The MPC will worry more about demand than inflation expectations; unemployment will have risen by April.

Samuel Tombs (UK Economist)U.K.

4 Oct 2022 UK Monitor Forecast Review, A Recession Induced by Policymakers Lies Ahead

  • We now look for a 1.5% year-over-year drop in GDP in 2023, worse than our prior forecast for a 1.2% decline.
  • The Energy Price Guarantee has shored up real in- comes, but the tax cuts are counterproductive, net...
  • ...The hit from the resulting drop in sterling and rise in mortgage rates will outweigh the direct fiscal boost.

Samuel Tombs (UK Economist)U.K.

28 Sept 2022 UK Monitor Surveys Point to a Small Drop in GDP in Q3, but this is Just the Start

  • PMI and confidence data for September suggest GDP edged down for a second consecutive quarter in Q3.
  • The downturn will gather momentum, as borrowing costs for households and businesses soar.
  • We now look for a 1.5% year-over-year decline in GDP in 2023, and CPI inflation not to return to 2% until 2025.

Samuel Tombs (UK Economist)U.K.

23 Sept 2022 UK Monitor MPC Likely to Stick to Another 50bp Hike in November, Despite Tax Cuts

  • The improved near-term outlook for CPI inflation has left the MPC less anxious about second-round effects.
  • The MPC is awaiting more details on fiscal policy; a 75bp hike in November can't be ruled out...
  • ...But the proposed tax cuts will do little to boost GDP, and spending might be cut; we still expect a 50bp hike.

Samuel Tombs (UK Economist)U.K.

22 Sept 2022 UK Monitor Gilt Issuance to Hit Eye-Watering Levels Next Year

  • Public borrowing has tracked the OBR's forecast this year, but government spending now will soar.
  • Loans to energy suppliers, to limit energy price rises, will boost the cash requirement, but not borrowing.
  • We look for a gross financing requirement of about £325B in 2023/24, but the outlook is very uncertain.

Samuel Tombs (UK Economist)U.K.

20 Sept 2022 UK Monitor August's Drop in Retail Sales Makes a 50bp Bank Rate Hike More Likely

  • The drop in August’s retail sales volumes was below consensus, but almost matched our forecast.
  • The weakness was broad based; consumers cut back on both essential and discretionary goods.
  • The larger-than-consensus fall makes a 50bp increase in Bank Rate this week more likely than a 75bp hike.

Gabriella DickensU.K.

15 Sept 2022 UK Monitor Will the Better News on CPI Inflation Keep Coming?

  • The month-to-month change in the August core CPI exceeded its seasonal norm by the least this year.
  • The recent decline in commodity prices suggests core CPI inflation will fall sharply next year.
  • Services inflation will be stickier, but the current support from energy price rises and VAT changes will fade.

Samuel Tombs (UK Economist)U.K.

13 Sept 2022 UK Monitor Q3 GDP Set to be Unchanged from Q2, Undershooting the MPC's forecast

  • June's 0.2% month-to-month rise in GDP was due to the unwinding of the Jubilee hit; the trend is flat.
  • We’re pencilling-in a 0.2pp hit to September GDP from the extra public holiday, but can’t rule out a bigger fall.
  • Even excluding the impact of the Queen’s funeral, Q3 GDP looks set to undershoot the MPC’s forecast.

Samuel Tombs (UK Economist)U.K.

9 Sept 2022 UK Monitor A Recession Now Looks Unlikely, following Bold Energy Price Action

  • The average household will spend less on energy over the next six months than during the last six.
  • So a winter recession now looks unlikely, and the MPC can return to focussing on core CPI inflation.
  • Fiscal policy will stabilise demand, not lift it; job market slack still looks set to emerge, limiting rate hikes.

Samuel Tombs (UK Economist)U.K.

8 Sept 2022 UK Monitor August's CPI Report will Temper Bets on a 75bp Rate Hike

  • CPI inflation likely fell to 9.9% in August, from 10.1% in
    July, returning to the level forecast by the MPC.
  • A slump in motor fuel CPI inflation likely dominated the further pick-up in food inflation.
  • BRC data show the pace of core goods price rises eased in August; July's large jump in rents won't be repeated.

Samuel Tombs (UK Economist)U.K.

7 Sept 2022 UK Monitor July GDP to Show the Economy has Slowed, but is Not in Recession Yet

  • We look for a modest 0.3% month-to-month rise in July
    GDP, leaving it only 0.1% up from three months earlier.
  • The composite PMI has pointed to stronger growth, but it excludes the distribution and health sectors.
  • Revised GDP estimates later this month likely will show that economic activity still is below its pre-Covid peak.

Samuel Tombs (UK Economist)U.K.

6 Sept 2022 UK Monitor How will Energy Price Interventions Impact the Inflation Outlook?

  • Ms. Truss has been tight-lipped about her plans, but a
    trade body plan to freeze prices is gaining traction.
  • If implemented, CPI inflation will return to the 2% target in 2023, easing the pressure for further big rate hikes.
  • Firms need help too, though we think Ms. Truss will cut business rates and provide grants, not reduce VAT.

Samuel Tombs (UK Economist)U.K.

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