The economic week ahead

Plenty of economic indicators due out this week, including a host of companies reporting. They should give an update as to how the economy is faring:

Retail figures due out:

M&S (Tuesday) and Next (Wednesday) will be giving their interim and and Q03 trading updates. Interesting to see if the downturn is yet being felt by these high-street stalwarts.


A plethora of economic indications:

The purchasing managers index for manufacturing and services, the British Retail Consortium's shop price surveys... all just in time for Thursday's MPC decision:


Bank of England (and ECB) rate decision:

Most expect the Bank of England and European Central Bank to reduce rates. Inflation figures published in the Eurozone showed an easing of inflation leaving the hawkish ECB free to cut rates following the Fed's move last week.

Will the Bank of England cut by 0.5% or 1.0%? It will depend to some extent on the weakness of the figures disclosed above, and the bank's internal data. Mervyn King may yet surprise, but as he's in favour of 'boring banking', I expect a 0.5% cut.