Bank of England
The Bank of England plays a key role in the UK jewellery industry through its influence on interest rates, inflation, currency strength, and economic policy. These factors directly impact consumer spending, raw material costs, financing, and price strategies for jewellers and suppliers. Jewellery Focus provides expert coverage of the Bank’s announcements, economic forecasts, monetary policy decisions, and their implications for trade confidence, sourcing expenses, and retail performance. Our reporting helps UK jewellery professionals plan strategically and adapt to shifting macroeconomic conditions.
-
Aug- 2022 -10 AugustEconomy
Heatwave helps boost retail sales 2.3% in July
Retail sales increased 2.3% in July as the heatwave experienced across the UK helped boost demand for “hot weather essentials”, according to the latest data from the BRC and KPMG retail sales monitor. UK retail sales increased 1.6% on a like-for-like basis from July 2021, when they had increased 4.7%.…
Read More » -
5 AugustEconomy
UK recession can be averted, claims Truss
In an interview with Sky News’s Kay Burley last night (4 August), foreign secretary Liz Truss claimed she could avert a recession if she wins the leadership contest. The claim comes after the Bank of England projected that the UK would enter a recession in this year’s fourth quarter, with…
Read More » -
4 AugustEconomy
BoE hikes rates to 1.75%, warns UK to enter recession until 2024
The Bank of England (BoE) has raised interest rates from 1.25% to 1.75%, marking the biggest rise in rates since 1995. In its latest announcement, the BOE also projected that the UK would fall into a recession in the fourth quarter of the year, which is expected to last for…
Read More » -
Jun- 2022 -16 JuneNews
BoE raises interest rates to 1.25%
The Bank of England’s (BoE) Monetary Policy Committee has voted to raise interest from 1% to 1.25% – marking its fifth rise in a row as it bids to offset the impact of rising inflation. The Monetary Policy Committee voted by a majority of 6-3 to increase the rate to…
Read More » -
May- 2022 -5 MayNews
BoE raises interest rates to highest level since 2009
The bank of England (BoE) has raised interest rates to its highest level since 2009 – marking the fourth time it has taken action since December. The new rate of 1%, up from 0.75%, is the BoE’s latest attempt to curb the rampant rise in inflation – also at its…
Read More » -
Mar- 2022 -17 MarchNews
BoE raises interest rates to 0.75%
The Bank of England has raised interest rates back to the pre-pandemic level of 0.75% as it tries to mitigate the effect of the rising costs of living and the impact that the conflict in Ukraine is having on the global economy. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted with a…
Read More » -
Feb- 2022 -3 FebruaryNews
BoE raises interest rates to 0.5%
The Bank of England (BoE) has raised interest rates for the second time in three months to 0.5%, up from 0.25% previously. The BoE Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) confirmed it voted by a majority of 5-4 to increase Bank Rate by 0.25 percentage points, to 0.5%. Interestingly, it revealed those…
Read More » -
Nov- 2020 -5 NovemberCoronavirus
Chancellor extends furlough scheme to March
Chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced that the furlough scheme will be extended until the end of March, amid increased measures for business support as the UK enters a four-week lockdown. Payments are set to remain at 80% of employee’s wages. It comes as the chancellor said that it was “right…
Read More » -
Mar- 2020 -4 MarchBusiness Bites
Coronavirus is stepping up a gear – this could be serious
When I started this column back in December I did not anticipate a single subject would dominate it so much, but as I wrote last week it would be silly not to address the latest coronavirus circumstances given that each new development so far has had a profound impact on…
Read More » -
Feb- 2020 -28 FebruaryBusiness Bites
Coronavirus sends ripples through markets, governments, companies and the public
Apologies for the repetition, but the new coronavirus is causing such a serious global reaction today it would be silly to focus on other things, so here are four key stories about what looks to be developing into a full blown international crisis. The FTSE 100 has lost nearly £200…
Read More »
