Good morning, and welcome to our rolling protection of the world economic system, the monetary markets, the eurozone and enterprise.
Retail gross sales volumes within the UK jumped 5.4% in March from the earlier month, as coronavirus restrictions started to ease. That is up from February’s 2.2% progress, and much stronger than the 1.5% achieve anticipated by the Metropolis.
Figures simply launched by the Workplace for Nationwide Statistics confirmed that in contrast with March final yr, gross sales had been up 1.6%. Nevertheless, over the three months to March, gross sales volumes fell 5.8% on the earlier three months, as a result of newest lockdown.
Some journey and social distancing restrictions had been lifted in England on the finish of March, resulting in increased shopper spending, the ONS stated. The strongest progress in March was in outfitters (up 17.5% on the month), different non-food shops (up 13.4%) and petrol stations (up 11.1%), the primary month-to-month progress since October.
Public sale homes had month as did medical items retailers, which loved gross sales progress of 29.4%, as retailers reported a rise within the buy of mobility tools from older customers who had been venturing out extra after being vaccinated in opposition to coronavirus. Backyard centres and retailers of vegetation and flowers reported month-to-month progress of seven.4%.
Meals shops posted a 2.5% achieve in gross sales, with butchers and bakers doing properly throughout the Easter interval when eating places and cafes remained closed.
Workplace for Nationwide Statistics (ONS)
(@ONS)Our newest information present that retail gross sales elevated by an estimated 5.4% in March 2021 in contrast with February 2021 https://t.co/IbqC4EwLbb pic.twitter.com/7gEU0XyZPs
The ONS additionally launched public finance figures. The federal government borrowed £28bn in March, £21bn greater than in March 2020 – and the very best March borrowing since month-to-month information started in 1993.
Within the yr to March, tax receipts totalled £523.6bn, down £34.2bn on the earlier yr, because the VAT take, enterprise charges and gas obligation had been down, whereas authorities spending soared.
Central authorities our bodies are estimated to have spent £941.7bn on day-to-day actions, £203.2bn greater than in 2019-2020; this contains £78.2bn expenditure on coronavirus job help schemes.
Workplace for Nationwide Statistics (ONS)
(@ONS)Public sector internet borrowing was £303.1 billion within the monetary yr ending March 2021 – £246.1 billion greater than the earlier yr.
This was 14.5% of GDP, the very best proportion for the reason that finish of World Warfare II, when it was 15.2% in 1945 to 1946 https://t.co/p64qO7vJ8E pic.twitter.com/pNCqMeQA74
European inventory markets had one other good day yesterday, nevertheless the restoration nonetheless has some solution to go earlier than reversing the losses seen earlier within the week. US shares bought off, led by the Nasdaq, after studies that president Joe Biden is seeking to improve the speed of capital positive factors tax to 39.6% for these Individuals incomes $1m a yr or extra, up from the present fee of 20%, with some wealthier people seeing their charges go as much as 43.4%.
Michael Hewson, chief market analyst at CMC Markets UK, says:
Whereas one might argue that the prospect of upper taxes isn’t welcome, and a doubling of a key tax fee much more so, the probability of something of this nature passing by means of an evenly cut up Congress, lies someplace between slim and none, nevertheless in these extremely uncertainty instances it doesn’t take a lot to spook a bit of little bit of revenue taking, in what has already been a really uneven week. The truth is taxes could rise however actually not by as a lot being touted.
European markets are anticipated to open barely decrease this morning. In Asia, Japan’s Nikkei closed 0.57% decrease whereas Hong Kong’s Hold Seng was up 0.66%.
The Agenda
- 8.30am BST: France Markit Manufacturing / Providers / Composite PMI Flash for April
- 8.30am BST: Germany Markit Manufacturing / Providers / Composite PMI Flash for April
- 9am BST: Eurozone Markit Manufacturing / Providers / Composite PMI Flash for April
- 9.30am BST: UK Markit Manufacturing / Providers / Composite PMI Flash for April
- 2.45pm BST: US Markit Manufacturing / Providers / Composite PMI Flash for April
- 3pm BST: US New residence gross sales for March
- 3.30pm BST: ECB president Christine Lagarde speech
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