Higher inflation should not lead to an increase in interest rates
Consumer price inflation rose more than expected in April, reaching 4.5% – up from 4.0% in March – according to figures released earlier today by the ONS.
Green Politics
Cameron deserves praise for overruling Osborne on climate change targets
Joss Garman reports on David Cameron’s intervention in the row between the Treasury and DECC on the UK’s climate change carbon emissions targets.
Lucas: PM neglect and Tory sentiment must not neuter energy bill
Caroline Lucas outline’s some of the good intentions of the Energy Bill – but warns that lack of realism, PM neglect or Tory sentiment could undermine its aims.
Straw v Guido: The debt debate
Left Foot Forward’s Will Straw and Paul Staines, of the Guido Fawkes blog, debated debt on the BBC’s Daily Politics show today.
Germany and France leave UK in the growth slow lane
Germany is growing at 1.5% while France is at 1%. By comparison, the UK grew at just 0.5% in the same period and much was due to the snow bounce.
Carbon Trust reveals UK emissions likely to rise into the 2020s
The Carbon Trust has today released new data revealing how the UK’s total carbon emissions are likely to rise into the 2020s, despite legally-binding targets to cut domestic emissions by a third.
‘Misery index’ set to move even higher in coming months
Tony Dolphin looks at today’s Bank of England Inflation Report.
Latest trade data reveals shock fall in export volumes
Export volumes fell by 1.5 per cent in March according to the latest trade data released today by the Office for National Statistics, reports Tony Dolphin.
Balls: “Cutting too far and too fast creates a vicious circle”
Ed Balls has called the government’s private sector job creation policy a “total flop” – with the £1 billion ‘National Insurance holiday’ announced by George Osborne in his inaugural budget last June creating just 6,000 jobs.
New poll shows public prefer Darling’s deficit reduction plan to Osborne’s
A new poll shows that the public remains sceptical of George Osborne’s economic strategy. Alistair Darling’s slower approach to deficit reduction is supported by 55% to 45%.