Sinking Feeling

POP

I call this game "economic dawinism". Lend money to fools at rates that can be repayed in the short-term, then increase the interest so they cannot repay, but leave them with debts for the rest of their lives. They cannot afford to have children so their genes die with them. Human society becomes slightly smarter at each stage, but you replay the game removing the intellectually feeble at each generation until the world no longer falls for your tricks.

I bet the nukes would be a hell of a lot cheaper if we bought them from China, and it doesn't matter if they fall apart ofter a few minutes use.

Hmmmm......wage rises at 3.6%, money supply at 13%, petrol and water prices rising and inflation is only 2.7%?

Gratuitous shots of hardcore American property porn .......phwoar!

I have to agree that the patterns seem very perculiar. I think you only have to look at where the FTSE 100 finished today to see that there is definite intervention.

I guess I can understand the opinion of the guy who doesn't think prices will fall- he doesn't look old enought to have seen anything but rising prices!

Let me see money supply = 13%, growth = 2.9%. 13-2.9= 10.1% inflation Yes that's something to be proud of!

I hope it's not a masters in economics! I don't think it will take a massive growth in the economy, just higher priced Chinese goods to stop hiding the already high levels of inflation. We already have mass unemployment- from what I have heard about government spending for the next few years it sounds like we'll be flat on our arses never mind our knees!

I think we can expect to see a lot of these jobs disappear over the next 2-3 years as Brown's carefree spending catches up with him. I have it on good advice that in negotiating the 2007-2008 budget, one government body that employs people throughout England and Wales (I can't say which) was initially presented with a 40% cut- this was negotiated to a 15% cut. When you factor in inflation, it obviously works out as much more.

I've seen more houses for sale, around parts of Manchester, than I've seen in about 10 years. All different types of houses some at what seem like special discount prices- still not quite year 2000 prices yet though!

I'm not really sure that 8% is going to make any difference. Lawson reduced the IR to 9% in 1988, and everyone went mad buying houses. 18% should separate the men from the boys, anything less is just a game for girls!

Yup, just like the late 80s and the USA at the moment. In times of economic stability people save, when people see a one way bet in a growing market they throw all the money they have at it. What the treasury should have said is "Yeah, we're pretty much f***ed!"

Not the kind of headline that sells papers tho'!

How would raising interest rates to 8% prevent a crash? Still, I guess people voted Tony Blair in for a third term, so no doubt the masses will be begging the BoE to do this!

Yeah the miserable bastards! Still, I shall be rewarded with a mighty great feeling of schadenfreude when they do!

Aaaaah 'tis the Devil himself! ..........but now you come to mention it, yes it probably would be a good opportunity as lots of people will be reluctant as they have had their fingers badly burnt once. I shall join thee in thine property empire!!

I remember reading a headline in the Express in about Ocober 2003, that a member of the MPC had said that rates would rise to at least 8% over the next 10 years, the following month rates rose to 3.75% and have increased thereafter. It seems to me that this is just them restating their policy- there is no change of plan.

This makes sense from a western perspective, but when you consider that the old soviet states are still using factories set up in the 1930s, coupled to the growth in polluting heavy industry in China and India, this theory also starts to look less stable.

What's quite astounding is that neither Brown nor Cameron seem to have even a primary school understanding of green issues. There was something on tv about how in favour Cameron is of recycling. There are people where I work who educate schoolkids on this type of stuff and I reckon most 8 year olds would be able to tell you that recycling is third down in the hierachy. In other words it is preferable to produce less packaging waste or, failing that, reuse it! http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/commo.../676997/679454/

Not quite true, house prices seem to have been a one way bet that have paid off in favour of the terminally stupid.

I'm just sorry that I missed the boat and didn't buy a shed load of assets in Zimbabwe in 2003 - Christ I'd be a millionaire with all that inflation!!

mmmmm beer!

I don't bother arguing with people who want to buy at the moment- you just end up making enemies. If you put them off buying and prices shoot up, you will be blamed, however, if prices drop and they lose everything "a friend in need is a friend indeed".

Something to bear in mind! You thought it was expensive in 2003 and couldn't afford it, it's even more expensive now and you still can't afford it- what's changed. I can understand you being upset if the property was cheap- say 2.5x your income- but to worry that you didn't get yourself hideously into debt is absurd. Plus houses round my way that were selling for £500,000+ last year are now on the market at £350,000 and not selling- I think there will be some people more upset than you!