UK: Weaker Sterling means slower consumer spending – Goldman Sachs


Andrew Benito, Research Analyst at Goldman Sachs, suggests that the main macro implication of Brexit is that Sterling import prices need to rise relative to export prices.

Key Quotes

“As the UK leaves the EU, access to key export markets will decline as the cost of international trade rises somewhat. The relative price of tradeable goods (and services) will also need to rise relative to non-tradeables. A weaker nominal level for Sterling anticipates and reflects those changes in the UK’s equilibrium real exchange rate. The rise in CPI inflation to 2.3%, and above the BoE’s 2.0%yoy target, reflects this process having begun.”  

“While a weaker currency helps usher in required adjustments to Brexit – including by supporting exports, and this effect applies even before the UK has negotiated the form of Brexit – it also reflects a new regime with lower real incomes than otherwise. We expect real consumer spending to slow to reflect that.”

“The consumer has, so far, been slow to show any sensitivity to a squeeze in real income growth. In this Daily, we explain why we expect consumer spending to slow this year and why we expect the BoE to ‘look through’ an inflation overshoot associated with that.”

How the BoE responds across 3 Acts of real exchange rate shifts...

We expect the BoE to ‘look through’ a temporary overshoot of the inflation target that owes to a required adjustment in relative prices – as it has in the past, even if the reason for the latest shift in the real exchange rate is different.”

“Our central case is that the BoE raises rates in 2019Q2 and not before. Above all, that view requires consumer spending to slow and some slack to open up to encourage the BoE to ‘look through’ an inflation overshoot that is part of the UK’s required adjustment to Brexit.”

Share: Feed news

Information on these pages contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Markets and instruments profiled on this page are for informational purposes only and should not in any way come across as a recommendation to buy or sell in these assets. You should do your own thorough research before making any investment decisions. FXStreet does not in any way guarantee that this information is free from mistakes, errors, or material misstatements. It also does not guarantee that this information is of a timely nature. Investing in Open Markets involves a great deal of risk, including the loss of all or a portion of your investment, as well as emotional distress. All risks, losses and costs associated with investing, including total loss of principal, are your responsibility. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of FXStreet nor its advertisers. The author will not be held responsible for information that is found at the end of links posted on this page.

If not otherwise explicitly mentioned in the body of the article, at the time of writing, the author has no position in any stock mentioned in this article and no business relationship with any company mentioned. The author has not received compensation for writing this article, other than from FXStreet.

FXStreet and the author do not provide personalized recommendations. The author makes no representations as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of this information. FXStreet and the author will not be liable for any errors, omissions or any losses, injuries or damages arising from this information and its display or use. Errors and omissions excepted.

The author and FXStreet are not registered investment advisors and nothing in this article is intended to be investment advice.

Recommended content


Recommended content

Editors’ Picks

AUD/USD tumbles toward 0.6350 as Middle East war fears mount

AUD/USD tumbles toward 0.6350 as Middle East war fears mount

AUD/USD has come under intense selling pressure and slides toward 0.6350, as risk-aversion intensifies following the news that Israel retaliated with missile strikes on a site in Iran. Fears of the Israel-Iran strife translating into a wider regional conflict are weighing on the higher-yielding Aussie Dollar. 

AUD/USD News

USD/JPY breaches 154.00 as sell-off intensifies on Israel-Iran escalation

USD/JPY breaches 154.00 as sell-off intensifies on Israel-Iran escalation

USD/JPY is trading below 154.00 after falling hard on confirmation of reports of an Israeli missile strike on Iran, implying that an open conflict is underway and could only spread into a wider Middle East war. Safe-haven Japanese Yen jumped, helped by BoJ Governor Ueda's comments. 

USD/JPY News

Gold price jumps above $2,400 as MidEast escalation sparks flight to safety

Gold price jumps above $2,400 as MidEast escalation sparks flight to safety

Gold price has caught a fresh bid wave, jumping beyond $2,400 after Israel's retaliatory strikes on Iran sparked a global flight to safety mode and rushed flows into the ultimate safe-haven Gold. Risk assets are taking a big hit, as risk-aversion creeps into Asian trading on Friday. 

Gold News

WTI surges to $85.00 amid Israel-Iran tensions

WTI surges to $85.00 amid Israel-Iran tensions

Western Texas Intermediate, the US crude oil benchmark, is trading around $85.00 on Friday. The black gold gains traction on the day amid the escalating tension between Israel and Iran after a US official confirmed that Israeli missiles had hit a site in Iran.

Oil News

Dogwifhat price pumps 5% ahead of possible Coinbase effect

Dogwifhat price pumps 5% ahead of possible Coinbase effect

Dogwifhat price recorded an uptick on Thursday, going as far as to outperform its peers in the meme coins space. Second only to Bonk Inu, WIF token’s show of strength was not just influenced by Bitcoin price reclaiming above $63,000.

Read more

Forex MAJORS

Cryptocurrencies

Signatures