Monthly Archives: April 2015

Yesterday’s GDP figures were rubbish. The first quarter of 2015 saw the slowest growth since the economy spluttered in 2012. True, it may, as Chris Giles says, be revised up but even so, 0.3 percent is well below where it should be.  This … Continue reading →

Allister Heath reckons economists are complaining too much about Britain’s dismal productivity: Too few economists seem prepared to accept that at least some of the UK’s productivity shortfall was a good thing. It happened because a large number of low … Continue reading →

The productivity puzzle continues to puzzle. It seems to be too puzzling for our politicians to talk about but lots of other people are on the case. Duncan Weldon wrote a piece earlier this week looking at both the economic and … Continue reading →

Former NHS chief executive, David Nicholson, warned last week that the financial problems in the NHS would become “crystal clear” before the year is out. He also said that the plan to make £22 billion in efficiency savings during the next parliament is “a big … Continue reading →

Our ancient cat died this week at the grand old age of 22 and 2 months. Apparently, that’s equivalent to a human being reaching 104. Born in Brixton on 7 February 1993, she was one of a litter of five. … Continue reading →

“The absence of productivity growth in the seven years since 2007 is unprecedented in the post-war period,” said the ONS after its figures showed yet another fall in productivity. Whichever way you measure it, it’s rubbish. It’s not only rubbish when … Continue reading →

Yesterday’s FT headline announced that the NHS has a bigger hole in its finances than we thought because it hasn’t made the efficiency savings the politicians were banking on. The National Health Service is facing an even bigger financial “black … Continue reading →

The reaction to Thursday’s leadership debate was far more entertaining than the programme itself, as politicians and the commentariat struggled to come to terms with the sight of seven party leaders slugging it out on TV. Frustratingly, no-one could work out … Continue reading →

At the Resolution Foundation’s pay event last week, someone asked a question about immigration. Alison Wolf was leaving but, just as she was on her way out she remarked that, while immigration might not have had an impact on wages, it has … Continue reading →

Great news, the economy grew by 2.8 percent last year. It’s great news because it’s better than the 2.6 percent previously forecast and better than anything we’ve seen since 2006. Like all these things, though, what you mean by good … Continue reading →