Other Countries Would Kill For China's "Low" Growth

The growth in China is "just not there", says talking head.

China grew 6.4% last year.

How? Just ... like ... HOW?

— Martin Baccardax (@mdbaccardax) January 25, 2019

UK Employment Hits Record High

The number of people in work in the UK has reached a record high of 32.54 million, latest figures from the Office of National Statistics show.

Unemployment was flat, with a small increase of 8,000 between September and November for a total of 1.37 million.

"The share of the population in work is the highest on record," said David Freeman, ONS head of labour market.

"The share of the workforce looking for work and unable to find it remains at its lowest for over 40 years."

Average earnings excluding bonuses increased by 3.3% in the year to November, as wage rises continued to outpace inflation.

Inflation Falls To Lowest Rate in Two Years

UK inflation rate (excluding owner occupiers' housing costs) fell to 2.1% in December, from 2.3% the previous month, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

The Consumer Prices Index including owner occupiers’ housing costs (CPIH) 12-month inflation rate was 2.0% in December 2018, down from 2.2% in November 2018.

The largest downward contributions to change in the 12-month rate came from falls in petrol prices and from air fares, where ticket prices rose between November and December 2018, but by less than a year ago.


Given this and the ongoing Brexit uncertainty there is no way that the Bank of England will raise rates.