Will Andrew Bailey be Santa or Scrooge this Christmas? |
The Notebook, where the City’s movers and shakers have their say, Today it’s Susannah Streeter with the pen
Christmas spirit seems to have spread a lot faster this year. I’ve never seen so many trees up in windows quite so early and there seem to be more lights twinkling in the streets. After months of speculation about public and personal finances, many seem super-keen to move on and start celebrating. The Budget has finally been unwrapped and, while there may have been some unwanted surprises that businesses would rather send back, at least that layer of uncertainty has been torn off and discarded.
Consumers have a better grasp of what their finances look like going forward, and retailers will be keeping their fingers crossed that this will translate into a bigger rebound in spending, during this all-important shopping month. November was tough, as storm Claudia battered footfall and Black Friday sales disappointed. But with signs shoppers were tightening their belts earlier in the year ready to loosen them over the holiday season, December could still bring a much-needed spending spree in retail and hospitality.
If the Bank of England, delivers the expected gift of an interest rate cut on the 18th, it should spread a little extra Christmas cheer. It........