20 Quotes by Alan Clarke

As the data continue to firm and upside risks to inflation build, we believe the MPC will adjust interest rates higher in the New Year,

The worst news on UK inflation is yet to come. The probability of a further rate cut is clearly reducing.

The rise in equity withdrawal is consistent with the rebound in house price inflation. It shows spending growth is increasingly dependent on equity extraction on top of take home pay.

Speculation that we will see deep interest rates is overdone. In the context of the widely anticipated rate cut in August, it is not surprising that the Halifax figures rose. Mortgage approvals suggest we should soon get better news on house-price inflation.

This certainly lends support to the (Bank of England) hawks that suggest the official retail sales data may not be a fair representation of broader consumer demand in the first quarter of the year.

It's a healthy increase. It shows the retail sector is not on the brink of falling off a cliff. I still firmly believe the next move in interest rates is more likely to be up than down.

Not even the most dovish of forecasters expects interest rates to be cut at Thursday's meeting.

Services performance was encouraging especially given the glimmers of hope on the domestic demand side.

For now, the 8-1 vote will provide ammunition to the doves that expect the next move to be a cut.