Rate Hike Fears and Budget Jitters Threaten UK's Burnham Bounce

Consumer confidence just hit a two-year high at -13 on the GfK barometer, marking three consecutive months of growth for the first time since summer 2024. But this "Burnham bounce" is colliding with a wall of reality: Bank of England Deputy Governor Clare Lombardelli warned Thursday that higher energy prices make it "increasingly likely" rates will need to rise. The UK economy grew around 1% in the first half of the year, defying expectations, yet analysts...