Conor O'Kane

Senior Lecturer in Economics at Bournemouth University. Economic history and macroeconomics.

[Faisal Islam @faisalislam]

Did some digging on UK GDP numbers on plane.

Digging into the ONS three decade monthly GDP spreadsheet: annualised growth of 2.7% from Jan-August is the strongest start (first two-thirds) to a year since 2017 (excluding the pandemic bounce back)

And Q3 is heading for about 0.7%, even if September is flat... Revisions are possible but they have been up in recent months.

By some way strongest start to a year since COVID.

Can see why it’s termed strong by multiple city economists. Especially given the Iran War headwinds. Perhaps they are just delayed by energy price cap and slow pass through of higher mortgage rates, but the idea the UK would be “hardest hit” has turned out to be nonsense so far.

More widely it is a return to the sort of normal growth pre Brexit/ financial crisis.

[Faisal Islam @faisalislam]

Annualised UK GDP growth so far in 2026, with two-thirds of the year gone, is 2.7-2.8%

Is expected to slow in q4, but that was also expected in q3. And q2.

City economists (eg Pantheon) say “we have to shift from describing UK growth as resilient to calling it strong”.

[IMF @IMFNews]

Money spent on interest is money that can't go to public investment, social spending, or support during downturns. In low-income countries, interest payments today consume over 15% of tax revenues. Read more in the latest Fiscal Monitor blog: https://t.co/e8ipnToESs

[Office for National Statistics (ONS) @ONS]

GDP grew 0.7% in the three months to August 2026, following revised growth of 0.5% in the three months to July.

Services grew (+0.9%) while production (-0.2%) and construction (-1.0%) both fell.

Read the full article ➡️ https://t.co/Cx45uRuVoN

[Brian Albrecht @BrianCAlbrecht]

This year's economics Nobel went to Robert Hall and Michael Woodford.

The 1970s showed that the Phillips curve could fall apart when policy changed.

Hall and Woodford rebuilt macro from choices with households planning ahead, firms setting prices, to help avoid this problem

[Faisal Islam @faisalislam]

NEW:

From Bangkok, IMF World Economic Outlook released…

- Upgrades UK growth this year by 0.3% to 1.3%, joint second highest in G7, defying the idea the UK would be hardest hit by Iran war… but inflation higher and growth trimmed next year

- UK “stands out” on deficit reduction, IMF Chief economist tells me, as its figures show a 3.9% point fall in deficit from 2025-2031, significantly more than other G7 nations, with 3 of them actually increasing their deficits over this time.

- IMF says UK should “stay course” on fiscal plans, Chancellor arrives tomorrow

- overall story of resilience in world economy, despite the clouds from the Gulf, as AI boosts US, Asia and UK to some degree… energy and trade proving flexible in dealing with shocks

[Conor O'Kane @IntMacro]

@campbellclaret 4 hours 37 mins

[Ridge & Frost @RidgeandFrost]

Borrowing costs are rising everywhere, but especially in France over the last month.

Sky's @WilfredFrost takes you through the numbers and their relevance ⬇️

[Robert Reich @RBReich]

"Globalization" has been an economic buzzword for decades, but what does it actually mean?

Here's what I tell my students.

[TRIGGERnometry @triggerpod]

Andrew Neil explains how bailing out the banks gave us Trump and Brexit.

[Prof. Paul Brown, PhD @pbrown4348]

Hunter-gatherer societies are often put on a pedestal as paragons of equality – but the reality is more complicated. Hunter-gatherers do not always seek total equality, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t egalitarian. https://t.co/JoTgbnYhjW

[rathin roy @EmergingRoy]

This is the clearest and most complete exposition of Keynesian economics (and its contrast with neoliberal and Marxist econ) for the thinking layperson that I’ve ever seen Should be in higher secondary economics textbooks!

https://t.co/fFtXpHrNH6

[Channel 4 News @Channel4News]

What is the economic legacy of austerity?

Mariana Mazzucato, economics professor at University College London and author of 'Common Good Economy', debates this question with Michael Gove, a former senior Conservative minister and now Editor of The Spectator.

[Scott Robertson @sarobertson_]

Wolfers: "There are deep concerns about the competence of the [Trump] administration. This is the worst economic team I've ever seen in my lifetime, and it's not even close. The president's understanding of economics probably at the University of Michigan would not earn him a passing grade."

[Conor O'Kane @IntMacro]

@BashyMc1 @Michael_TSB

[Bank of England @bankofengland]

The Monetary Policy Committee voted 6-3 to keep the interest rate at 3.75%.

Find out more: https://t.co/GHHt7QdrbF

[Conor O'Kane @IntMacro]

RT @faisalislam: Oil price hits $100, UK gas futures reach highest level since Iran War started as fears escalate over shortages at same ti…

[Institute for Fiscal Studies @TheIFS]

Today’s public finance figures show debt interest spending was £33 billion in the first quarter of the 2026–27 financial year, equivalent to 4.3% of GDP.

Debt interest spending is set to remain high, leaving the new PM and Chancellor in a tight fiscal situation going forward:

[Office for National Statistics (ONS) @ONS]

The Consumer Prices Index (CPI) rose by 2.6% in the 12 months to June 2026, down from 2.8% in the 12 months to May 2026.

Read the full article ️➡️ https://t.co/tEsyKjjlXA

[Jostein Hauge @haugejostein]

China now manufactures 89% of the world’s solar panels, 70% of the world’s wind turbines, 83% of the world’s batteries, and 75% of the world’s electric vehicles — all at a lower cost than the West.