Economic situation

This page highlights some of the current parliamentary material available on the economic situation. This includes select committee reports, briefing papers on current legislation and other subjects produced by the parliamentary research services, and the latest Early Day Motions put down by MPs.

Standard Notes

DateDescription
06.02.2012GDP - International comparisons: Economic Indicators page
Across the G7 as a whole, quarter-on-quarter growth was faster in Q3 2011 than in Q2 2011. The UK economy grew by 0.6% in Q3 2011, following no growth in Q2 2011. The US, France, Germany and Japan also saw growth rise in Q3 2011, relative to Q2. In the eurozone as a whole, however, the Q3 2011 figures were the weakest for two years, at 0.1%.
06.02.2012Inflation: International: Economic indicators page
Eurozone inflation in the year to December was 2.7%, down from 3.0% in November. In the year to December, UK inflation was 4.2%, down from 4.8% in November: this is the third-highest figure in the EU, behind Slovakia (4.6%) and Poland (4.5%).
06.02.2012Exchange rates: Economic Indicators page
The Sterling Exchange Rate Index (SERI) rose by 0.3% in January, following a 0.5% rise in December. In January, the pound was one cent weaker against the dollar and two cents stronger against the euro, when compared with December.
06.02.2012Housing Market: Economic Indicators page
House prices on the Nationwide index fell by 0.2% in January. Prices were 0.6% higher in January compared with a year ago. House prices on the Halifax index rose by 0.6% in January having fallen by 1.0% in December. There were 23,410 house building starts in England in Q3 2011, down 1% from 23,610 in Q2 2011. There were 52,939 mortgage approvals in December.
03.02.2012Financial Indicators: Economic Indicators page
Data on the FTSE-100 stock index, the price of oil and the price of gold.

Research Papers

DateDescription
10.01.2012Economic Indicators, January 2012
This Research Paper series summarises the main economic indicators currently available for the UK, along with comparisons with other major OECD countries.
14.12.2011Southeast Asia: A political and economic introduction
This paper provides a broad introduction to Southeast Asia. It offers key facts and figures about the region, followed by country studies of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. It then looks more analytically at two key issues for the region: democratisation and Islamist terrorism. It ends with a select bibliography.
06.12.2011Economic Indicators, December 2011
This Research Paper series summarises the main economic indicators currently available for the UK, along with comparisons with other major OECD countries.
01.11.2011Economic Indicators, November 2011
This Research Paper series summarises the main economic indicators currently available for the UK, along with comparisons with other major OECD countries.
04.10.2011Economic Indicators, October 2011
This Research Paper series summarises the main economic indicators currently available for the UK, along with comparisons with other major OECD countries.

Select Committee Reports

DateDescription
01.12.2010Meeting with the Governor of the Bank of England.
Economic Affairs Select Committee (HL) report [Lords]
29.03.2010The effect of the economic downturn on the people in the West Midlands.
West Midlands Select Committee; Communities and Local Government report [Commons]
11.01.2010The effect of the economic downturn on the people in the West Midlands.
West Midlands Select Committee report [Commons]
24.11.2009Banking crisis: regulation and supervision.
Government response. Treasury; Financial Services Authority; Treasury Select Committee report [Commons]
23.11.2009The impact of the current economic and financial situation on businesses in the West Midlands region....
Communities and Local Government; West Midlands Select Committee report [Commons]

Lords Library Notes

DateDescription
07.01.2011Debate on 13 January 2011: economic and strategic role of Turkey. LLN 2011/001
Debate on 13 January 2011: economic and strategic role of Turkey. House of Lords Library Note 2011/001
05.02.2010Fiscal Responsibility Bill (HL Bill 24 of 2009-2010). LLN 2010/005
Fiscal Responsibility Bill (HL Bill 24 of 2009-2010). The Fiscal Responsibility Bill imposes a statutory duty on the Treasury to meet specific targets for the

Early Day Motions

DateDescription
08.11.2011REBALANCING THE NORTH ECONOMY
That this House congratulates the Sunday Sun on its campaign which calls on the Prime Minister to visit Easington constituency in County Durham, one of the most deprived areas hardest ...
18.10.2011BANKS AND QUANTITATIVE EASING
That this House notes with considerable anger the report in the Financial Times of 18 October 2011 that a commercial bank has sought to manipulate the market in the light of the latest ...
17.10.2011OCCUPY LSX
That this House expresses its support for and solidarity with Occupy LSX, the group of people occupying the steps of St Paul'sCathedral and the occupations in Edinburgh and elsewhere ...
14.07.2011SPACE SCIENCE CONTRIBUTION TO THE BRITISH ECONOMY
That this House notes that space science and exploration, an area of world leadership in the UK's science base, has delivered significant long-term economic benefits, in addition to ...
20.06.2011ANNIVERSARY OF THE BIRTH OF E F SCHUMACHER
That this House notes the centenary of E F Schumacher's birth on 16 August 2011; recognises his outstanding contribution to economics; calls on the Government to implement his vision ...

Glossary

  • Research Papers (RP) - briefings produced by the House of Commons Library on Bills, topical issues and regular statistics
  • Standard Notes (SN) - shorter, topical briefings from the Commons Library
  • Early Day Motions (EDMs) - formal motions submitted by MPs in the House of Commons
  • POST Notes - short briefing notes produced by the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology
  • Lords Library Notes (LLN) - an occasional series of papers compiled by the House of Lords Library