93 Quotes by Howard Archer

We believe that interest rates will eventually come down by a further 25 basis points to 4.25%.

Year-on-year growth of 2.2-percent exactly matched the Bank of England's forecast... reinforcing expectations that interest rates are set to remain unchanged for several more months to come.

UK imports of goods excluding oil ... rose for a fourth successive month in February, and by substantial 4.5 percent, suggesting that domestic demand may have surprised on the upside in the first quarter.

Mr Brown will clearly look to take advantage of the budget to further his credentials to take over as prime minister from Mr Blair.

No change was no surprise, given recent overall evidence of modestly stronger economic activity and a more robust housing market.

Retail sales picked up more than expected in March, which along with the current strength in the housing market, boosts hopes that the consumer is still alive, if not exactly kicking.

Nevertheless, limited core inflation in January will not deter the ECB from hiking interest rates by a further 25 basis points on Thursday.

If this is confirmed, it will reinforce our suspicion that the December performance was inflated by many consumers opening their wallets to treat their families and themselves at Christmas having held back their spending over much of 2005.

Future growth still depends critically on developments in consumer spending, and we suspect that this will be relatively muted over the coming months.