Brickonomics

Are expectations of inflation too low?

Inflation is now on the way up. That was to be expected. As Mervyn King, Governor of the Bank of England, keeps reminding us, we should expect inflation to be very volatile for some while. But, is it me or...

Posted by Brian on November 18, 2009 8:59 AM

Your chance to play: Fantasy Chancellor and swing that spending axe

Feel that fantasy football is a bit old hat? Think you have outgrown FIFA Manager 09 and are itching to run something bigger than a football club? Well why not try playing Fantasy Chancellor and conduct your very own Spending...

Posted by Brian on September 18, 2009 3:33 PM

Building Britain's Future promises 45,000 new jobs building homes - That can't be right

Has anyone else prodded the sums on the 45,000 new jobs promised in the Building Britain's Future document as a result of the £1.5 billion pledged to stimulate building of 20,000 social and 10,000 private homes? I would have had...

Posted by Brian on July 6, 2009 5:51 PM

Chancellor provides optimism in the gloom...and that's what's worrying

The direct measures aimed at construction-related activities and businesses in the 2009 Budget will be welcomed in some quarters, mainly among the house builders. Though I am not so sure I would go with the instant view from the surveyors'...

Posted by Brian on April 22, 2009 2:41 PM

Recovery soon for construction?

The torrent of economic good news gushing from economists and think tanks is almost overwhelming. Hell's teeth it is a boost to confidence. But does this mean that the recovery is in sight for construction?...

Posted by Brian on April 20, 2009 1:45 PM

Not a good time to be taking risks

What do the latest inflation figures tell us? Firstly, we are set for a heightening of the row between the quantitative easers and those leaning towards the views of the Austrian school on the matter of pumping money into a...

Posted by Brian on March 24, 2009 12:58 PM

Construction output to fall to 1996 levels by 2011, says forecast

Remember the pleasure and pain of Euro '96, the rise and rise of the Spice Girls, This Life and Chris Evan's TFI Friday on TV, John Major as Prime Minister and Swampy digging in against the road builders? Well some...

Posted by Brian on January 22, 2009 1:32 PM

Is the UK plunging into the worst recession in 60 years?

I am frequently accused of being too gloomy, which is upsetting to a sensitive person who likes to see the sunny side of things. My riposte is that while I might have appeared a bit glum when commenting on the...

Posted by Brian on December 9, 2008 11:37 AM

How to save 150,000 construction jobs, earn the Treasury £16 billion and create 200,000 new homes

Imagine that Chancellor Alistair Darling had decided to boost public spending by investing £20 billion of taxpayers' money over the next two years in buying land and building homes earmarked for eventual open market sale. What would be the net...

Posted by Brian on November 25, 2008 3:50 PM

The Chancellor's measures are not exceptional enough

I can but agree with the Chancellor that these are exceptional times and they require exceptional measures. My complaint, as I have said before, is that it took rather too long for the bulk of the political establishment to accept...

Posted by Brian on November 24, 2008 5:53 PM

Tender price squeeze is likely to threaten construction firms

The latest projections from the cost service BCIS point to further reductions in tender price over the next two years despite expected rises in input prices. The latest figures show a fall of 1.2% in the first quarter of this...

Posted by Brian on October 20, 2008 10:25 AM

Spend big, yes, but spend wisely on construction Mr Darling

Just over a week ago I had lunch with three economists, all with more than a passing interest in construction. Oddly, perhaps, for a group of economist there seemed to be a consensus, well at least on one topic. If...

Posted by Brian on October 19, 2008 8:42 PM

Darling's bid might steer construction away from a nasty recession

Less than a fortnight ago I wondered whether we might see a return to Keynesian-style cash injections to buoy the real economy and more specifically construction. I recall other similar comments in the media. Now it seems from stories in...

Posted by Brian on October 19, 2008 5:08 PM

Phew - Thank you Evan Davis for restoring some sanity

I freely admit this is an indulgent blog and rather outside what I see as my scope, but I felt an obligation to make some points on the subject of the attacks on Alistair Darling and to record a thank...

Posted by Brian on September 3, 2008 1:48 PM

Phew - thank you Mr Darling. Now we can get on and fix the problems

For me tracking the Government's handling of the economic crisis over the past few months has been a bit like watching a sick gag in a sketch show where a child hops into the kitchen with one bloodied leg severed...

Posted by Brian on August 30, 2008 9:26 AM

Inflation tsunami flattens construction prospects

I recognise that I have said this time and again and probably will say it a few times more - but don't underplay the impact of rising inflation. I can already hear echoes of overexcited managment consultants suggesting to clients...

Posted by Brian on July 24, 2008 5:50 PM

Plunging house sales create major tax headache for Darling

If I were the Chancellor looking at the latest property transaction figures I wouldn't be worried, I'd be very worried. At 270,000 transactions for residential property in the second quarter, we are looking at a housing market about 38% less...

Posted by Brian on July 22, 2008 2:24 PM