Handelsbanken Insights Economic Update

This week, James Sproule and Daniel Mahoney drill down into what's hampering growth in the UK and EU compared to the United States.

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In the first podcast of 2026, Daniel Mahoney joins James Sproule to look back at 2025's key economic stories. Dan explains why some of them could still have an impact in 2026.

Those include:

• inflation,
• interest rates, and
• how political issues are shaping the outlook for the economy and markets.

All in under 15 minutes.

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Join Daniel Mahoney, James Sproule and Johan Löf for our last podcast of 2025. They discuss the latest UK economic data, and share what they expect from the Bank of England's final rate decision of the year.

Plus, what do 60, 1939, and 2 have in common? Listen in to find out!

Don't forget to rate us wherever you get your podcasts, meantime we wish all of our listeners a happy Christmas and peaceful new year.

This week, James Sproule and Daniel Mahoney take a look at how artificial intelligence is being used by business, how quickly it's really being adopted, and how it's affecting UK economic growth predictions. All in under 15 minutes. Rate us and subscribe wherever you're listening.

In a special edition of the podcast, Daniel Mahoney is joined by UK Chief Economist James Sproule, Jasmine Crabb from Handelsbanken Markets, and Stephen Cowling head of wealth management at Handelsbanken Wealth, to pick over the bones of the autumn budget.

They discuss:

📈 📉 The market reaction

💷 Changes to personal and business taxation

📊 How the budget affects the outlook for the UK economy

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What you think about prices going up can actually affect whether they do. In a special edition of the podcast, Daniel Mahoney explains to our Global Head of Forecasting Johan Löf why that matters in the battle against inflation.

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Read Daniel's Macro Comment: How concerned should we be about elevated consumer inflation expectations?

After a spasm in gilt markets as the government appeared to ditch plans to raise income taxes, James Sproule and Daniel Mahoney take stock of the UK economy as we countdown to the November 26 budget. And with gilts in the headlines, James looks at how government bonds have performed in recent history. All in under 15 minutes.

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Our Global Head of Forecasting Johan Löf joins the pod this week to talk about the end of the US government shutdown and whether it'll affect the US economic outlook.

Plus, James Sproule and Daniel Mahoney unpick the latest MPC rates decision, and James reports on the IFS' Green Budget.

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We're expecting interest rates to be held at November's MPC meeting, but as Daniel Mahoney and James Sproule explain, its accompanying report (in a new format) will be scrutinised for clues as to when it will resume rate cuts.

Plus, is "hazy" data hiding what could be a more positive story on UK productivity? James explains his theory.

And James shares a little-discussed driver of house prices.

All in under 15 minutes.

Let us know what you think in the comments.

Inflation beat expectations last week - good news for the chancellor, but has it changed the outlook for interest rates?

And could changes to council tax be in the pipeline as Rachel Reeves considers which economic levers she can activate to move the economy up a gear.

Plus, how are UK housebuilding targets looking?

James Sproule and Daniel Mahoney wrap up the key economic news in under 15 minutes.

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