Figures released by the ONS last week indicate that Consumer Price Inflation has reduced to 4.6%. Alice Pugh discusses what has caused inflation to fall and what it means for consumers. It has been a year since the consumer price inflation (CPI) index reached its highest rate in over 40 years, at 11.1% in October … Continue reading “Inflation Highs Coming Down”
Category: Economics
Megatrends in the Midlands 2023
Megatrends are an issue that City-REDI has written about previously. We have a fantastic podcast series which is well worth a listen to and a 2021 report focussing on the West Midlands. This latest blog is written to coincide with a new report produced by City-REDI in collaboration with the Midlands Engine looking at Megatrends … Continue reading “Megatrends in the Midlands 2023”
The King’s Speech – The Economic Impact for the West Midlands
Alice Pugh discusses the key bills highlighted during the King’s Speech and what they might mean for the economy of the West Midlands. This blog was first posted on the Birmingham Business School blog. This week the King delivered the first King’s Speech since 1951, though the King had previously delivered the speech when the … Continue reading “The King’s Speech – The Economic Impact for the West Midlands”
REDI-Updates: How are Consumer Trends Changing in the Cost-Of-Living Crisis?
The latest edition of REDI-Updates is out now – providing expert data insights and clear policy guidance. In this edition, the WMREDI team investigates what factors are contributing to the cost-of-living crisis and the impact it is having on households, businesses, public services and the third sector. We also look at how the crisis in … Continue reading “REDI-Updates: How are Consumer Trends Changing in the Cost-Of-Living Crisis?”
Shrinkflation and Skimpflation – A Permanent Loss in What Your Money can buy
Alice Pugh discusses Shrinkflation and Skimpflation and how these have had an adverse effect on the consumers. This blog was originally published in the Birmingham Business School Blog. What is Shrinkflation? Shrinkflation is when the size of a product decreases, but the price remains constant. It is a discrete way of increasing the price of … Continue reading “Shrinkflation and Skimpflation – A Permanent Loss in What Your Money can buy”
How will Labour Deliver Innovation led Growth? Lesson Learnt from the Innovation Accelerator Pilots
On 9th October, City-REDI / WMREDI, University of Birmingham hosted a fringe event at the Labour Party Conference on how to accelerate placed-based growth and innovation. Rebecca Riley and Steve Barwick reflect on the key points discussed at the fringe event. The event was chaired by Matt Western MP, Shadow Minister for Higher Education and … Continue reading “How will Labour Deliver Innovation led Growth? Lesson Learnt from the Innovation Accelerator Pilots”
The LPIP Hub: What are Cities and What Role do They Play in our Social, Economic, and Environmental Systems?
Rebecca Riley recently attended an RSA Urban Futures Roundtable looking at the potential of the UK’s cities. In a series of blogs, Rebecca reflects on the challenges facing places in building regenerative economies. In the first blog, Rebecca asks what are cities and looks at the role they play in our social, economic, and environmental … Continue reading “The LPIP Hub: What are Cities and What Role do They Play in our Social, Economic, and Environmental Systems?”
Alternative Approaches to Local Economic Development: Perspectives from the West Midlands
Anne Green, David Waite and Richard Crisp discusses their new paper which compares the five leading agendas that have been positioned as alternative and progressive policy responses to urban economic change. Decades of traditional growth-oriented economic policies have failed to stem widening social inequalities and rising environmental challenges. This has triggered growing interest amongst policymakers … Continue reading “Alternative Approaches to Local Economic Development: Perspectives from the West Midlands”
Why are the Commonwealth Games struggling to find hosts?
July saw Ozzy the giant mechanical bull and symbol of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games unveiled in Birmingham New Street. The buzz about the station was high and served as a reminder of the success of last year’s Games. Almost at the same time we saw Victoria, Australia the planned hosts of the next Games in 2026 … Continue reading “Why are the Commonwealth Games struggling to find hosts?”
The West Midlands as a Regional Test bed for Innovation Policy and Support
George Bramley summarises the main findings of a new WMREDI report ‘Early Assessment of the West Midlands Innovation Programme’ whilst Dr Jamie Elliot reflects on how the findings have contributed to shaping provision going forward. Programmes to support innovation have tended to be designed centrally focusing on specific aspects of the research, development, and innovation … Continue reading “The West Midlands as a Regional Test bed for Innovation Policy and Support”