Household goods have fallen 5 percent in the last two months -- we are moving house but not buying the kit to go in it. |
One month's data do not necessarily indicate the start of a trend, but round one goes to those of us who have argued that the fundamentals do not support rapid growth in consumption this year. |
The Monetary Policy Committee is back facing a familiar dilemma a housing market that is recovering well, with households not afraid to take on more debt, but real economy and inflation numbers which are much softer. |
Unless or until the revival in the housing market translates into higher consumer demand, it is the weakness of the latter that is of greater relevance to the inflation outlook -- and hence the policy decision. |