The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned George Osborne that accelerating house prices and low productivity pose the greatest threat to the UK’s economic recovery.
It said rising property values could leave households more vulnerable to income and interest rate shocks.
It also called on the Bank of England to enact policy measures “early and gradually” to avoid a housing bubble.
In April, the IMF said the UK economy would grow by 2.9% in 2014.
The Fund’s annual health check of the UK economy found it has “rebounded strongly and growth is becoming more balanced” adding economic growth would “remain strong this year.”
It is a significant turnaround from last year when the IMF’s chief economist Oliver Blanchard appeared to have a public falling out with the chancellor after he criticised the government’s austerity policies.
This year IMF managing director Christine Lagarde admitted the Fund “got it wrong” in its assessment adding that while the UK’s economic recovery began with consumer spending, it was now rebalancing towards an “investment-led recovery”.
The Bank of England’s Financial Policy Committee (FPC) is due to meet later in June and could announce measures to control mortgage lending.
In May, 25% taxpayer-backed Lloyds Banking Group said it would limit its mortgage lending to four times a borrower’s income on loans above £500,000.
On Tuesday, Royal Bank of Scotland – which remains 80% taxpayer-owned – said it would also restrict the amount it advanced to mortgage borrowers.
Related Posts
Dominica to implement measures to cushion impact of Middle East war on local economy
Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit shared that we are exposed to the economic…
