Rooftop solar panels can cut energy bills by almost a quarter – but without targeted support households in poorer areas will miss out

Rooftop solar panels could cut poorer households’ energy bills by almost a quarter, but big upfront costs mean millions are missing out, according to new Resolution Foundation research published today (Thursday). Sunny day savings examines what the Government’s proposed ‘rooftop revolution’ in solar energy – which could put millions more solar panels on roofs by … Continued

Chancellor’s hopes of a quick fiscal tonic raised by votes for larger interest rate cuts

Lower-income households likely to be hit hardest from upcoming inflation spike

The Bank of England’s decision to cut interest rates from 4.75 to 4.5 per cent was expected, but two votes for even larger cuts were not. This suggest rates may come down more quickly than had previously been expected, raising the Chancellor’s hopes of lower debt servicing costs that could help the UK’s fiscal position, … Continued

Government still at risk of breaking fiscal rules despite market recovery from January jitters

Higher interest rates and a weaker economic outlook could force the Chancellor to choose between fresh policy-tightening measures on 26th March, or breaking the fiscal rules she set only last October, despite markets recovering after their January jitters, according to new research published today (Thursday) by the Resolution Foundation. The Foundation’s latest Macroeconomic Policy Outlook … Continued

Chancellor adds concrete to the Government’s economic plans, but still lacks a Euro-vision

The Chancellor added plenty of concrete to the Government’s nascent economic strategy, setting out plans to build new railway lines, road tunnels and runways. But she’ll face tougher decisions ahead in her quest for growth, particularly on new trade agreements with India and an updated relationship with the EU, the Resolution Foundation said today (Wednesday). … Continued

New population projections should boost the size of the economy and reduce borrowing by around £5 billion

New ONS population projections should, if incorporated by the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), improve the economic and fiscal outlook, and reduce borrowing by around £5 billion, the Resolution Foundation said today (Tuesday). The new projections have revised up expectations of the working-age population in 2029-30 by around 400,000. Based on previous scenarios from the … Continued

Government spends big in the run-up to Christmas – but borrowing still in line with OBR forecasts

Higher than expected spending meant that public sector borrowing in December was £3.2 billion above the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) forecast, but cash measures show government requirements remain on track in the run to recent new year market jitters, the Resolution Foundation said today (Wednesday). The latest ONS data shows that the Government borrowed … Continued

Right to Buy sales will slow to a crawl under the Government’s proposals – but Britain still has £50 billion shortfall in affordable housing to address

The Government’s proposed clampdown on the Right to Buy council homes will significantly blunt the impact of the policy. But it still faces a huge task in replenishing Britain’s affordable housing stock – with 400,000 more properties needed, at a cost of £50 billion, just to get back to 2010 levels of sub-market rent homes, … Continued

High housing costs outweigh cheap food to widen living standards gaps between poor families in Britain and their German, Dutch and French counterparts

The sky-high cost of housing outweighs the relatively low cost of food to make Britain a particularly pricey country for poorer families – and widens household income gaps between poor British households and their German, Dutch and French counterparts – according to new Resolution Foundation research published today (Monday). The briefing note Whose price is … Continued

Reducing child poverty in Britain today will require greater support for working parents

Single-earner couples have seen their risk of falling into poverty rise by a third since 2000

Rising parental employment over the past two decades has switched the focus of Britain’s child poverty challenge from tackling workless households to supporting working families, with many kinds of working families now facing a greater risk of poverty than at the turn of the millennium, according to research published today (Monday) by the Resolution Foundation. … Continued

Petrol and rents drive disappointing inflation rise

CPI inflation increased to 2.6 per cent in November – higher than the Bank of England had expected – highlighting the challenge Britain faces in getting inflation back down to its target. The rise was driven by petrol prices, which fell by less over the past year in November than they did in October and … Continued

Government has tweaked its housing targets in a more growth-friendly direction – but major cities outside London still left behind

Tweaking the affordability criteria in the Government’s housing targets should help deliver more homes in areas with the most economic potential, as well as in areas with acute affordability challenges, since they are now more focused on the most productive travel to work areas, the Resolution Foundation said today (Thursday) of the Government’s response to … Continued

Government’s Industrial Strategy builds on Britain’s strengths, but risks ignoring what this must mean for left-behind places

The Government’s Industrial Strategy Green Paper has a welcome focus on leveraging Britain’s economic strengths – as an exporter of services, a European leader for defence, and a strong university-led research base – and identifies a sensible set of clusters and growth industries. But to focus on these, the strategy will need to pass over … Continued

Government right to put rising living standards at the heart of its agenda

The Government’s new targets of raising Real Household Disposable Income (RHDI) and GDP per person over the Parliament at both a national and regional level is a welcome move that should focus minds across Whitehall about the need to raise household living standards. However, with the national RHDI milestone having been hit in every parliament … Continued

Loading
No more press releases found