Last month America’s consumer prices inflation rate rose to 4.2% from 2.6% and this is before the full effects of the Biden stimulus plans take affect. Eurozone inflation accelerated to 1.6% year-on-year in April, up from 1.3% in March, following a sharp rise in the cost of energy compared to the height of the pandemic. UK annual inflation meanwhile more than doubled in April to 1.5% from 0.7% in March, although both remain below central bank target rates of 2% for now.
Budget 2021 – details
The Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak has announced that
the bill for addressing the coronavirus pandemic is currently £407bn, which is
equivalent to 10x HS2 projects or 20 Crossrail’s.
Tax thresholds
The key financial changes announced in the budget are as
follows:
The basic rate income tax threshold has been slightly increased from April 2021
to £12,570 from £12,500 and the high rate threshold to £50,270 from £50,000.
The thresholds will then stay at these levels for the following 5 years.
The inheritance tax nil-rate band will remain at the existing level of £325,000
and also the residence nil-rate band of £175,000 until at least 2026. The
residence nil-rate band taper will continue to start at £2 million.
The capital gains annual exempt amount has also been frozen at £12,300 until
2026.
Dividends also escaped. The tax-free dividend allowance has been kept at
£2,000.
Pensions
The pension lifetime allowance has also been frozen at £1,073,100 until 2026.
The state pension will however rise by 2.5% next tax year and the triple lock
will remain in place.
Property
The 0% stamp duty land tax holiday on the first £500,000 has been extended
until 30 June 2021. The threshold will then be reduced down to £250,000 for a
further 3 months and then return back to £125,000 from October.
Lenders have been withdrawing from providing low-deposit mortgages. Therefore
to help first time buyers the government is guaranteeing 95% loan-to-value
mortgages up to £600,000.
Companies
From April 2023 corporation tax will increase for companies with profits above
£50,000. Tapering from 19% up to 25% above £250,000. This will affect the UK
companies, but as it is progressive and can be offset by ‘super deduction’ on
business investment as companies investing can benefit from a 130% first-year
capital allowance.
IR35 changes delayed from last year will go ahead in April 2021. Companies must
now collect income tax and NIC from the contractor’s fee and pay it over to
HMRC.
The furlough scheme will be extended until October 2021. However, employers
will be asked to contribute 10% in July and increased to 20% in August.
The trading loss carry-back rule has also been extended from the existing one
year to three years.
The VAT reduction for the UK’s tourism and hospitality sector has been extended
until October 2021 and reduced rate of 12.5% will then be applied until April
2022.
Business rate reliefs have also been extended to July 2021 and then a reduced
rate of 66% until April 2022.
Even more stimulus
The Senate finally passed a budget resolution moving forward legislation authorising the $1.9 trillion stimulus the President requested. This takes the amount of the global stimulus to above $22 trillion.
OPEC cuts oil supply
Saudi Arabia shocked the markets by raising pricing for oil customers after cutting supply by 1 million barrels a day in February and March.
Even more fiscal stimulus
Japan announced a new ¥73.6tn ($708bn) stimulus package to further support the recovery. The new stimulus package will include subsidies for green investment and spending to accelerate digitalisation.
More fiscal stimulus
The European Central Bank (ECB) has bolstered its pandemic emergency purchase programme (PEPP) by €500bn – taking it to €1.85tn. It also announced it was extending the PEPP by nine months, until at least March 2022.
The Fed changes policy
The US Federal Reserve (Fed) announced a new policy of a flexible average inflation target, meaning it will allow inflation to run “moderately” above the 2% target after periods when it has been persistently below-target. This would potentially allow the bank to keep US interest rates low for longer.
UK is in recession
It is not surprising but we are officially in a recession as the ONS has calculated that Covid had caused GDP to fall by 20.4% in Q2.
EU finally signs off on a €750 bn recovery package
The package is made up of €390bn programme of grants and the rest in loans.
Chancellor’s summer economic update – details
Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, has announced a range of measures to try and kick-start the economy.
The big story is a cut in VAT for the hospitality sector from 20% to 5% and this will apply to eat-in or hot takeaway food from restaurants, cafes and pubs, accommodation in hotels, B&Bs, campsites and caravan sites, attractions like cinemas, theme parks and zoos.
He also announced a temporary stamp duty holiday until January 2021 to stimulate the property market. This would exempt the first £500,000 of all property sales from the tax.
The government will pay businesses a £1,000 bonus for every staff member that is kept on for three months when the furlough scheme ends in October. To qualify, the employee must be paid at least £520 on average, in each month from November to the end of January.
New schemes were announced to boost employment and training opportunities for 16 – 24 year olds. This includes a ‘Kick Start’ scheme to assist those at risk of long term unemployment by funding six-month work placements to those on universal credit. Further support will be provided to young people in England: funding of £1,000 for each new work experience place; for apprenticeships – funding of £2,000 for each new apprentice aged under 25, and £1,500 for each new apprentice aged 25 and over, from 1st August 2020 to 31st January 2021. The apprenticeship payments will be in addition to the existing £1,000 funding that is provided for young apprentices.
There was also a scheme announced that will be launched in August to give 50% off to people dining out. The scheme will mean 50% off meals eaten at any registered business between Monday to Wednesday in August, up to a maximum discount of £10 per head (including children).