Following a dramatic revision, the latest IMF forecast has catapulted Britain from wallflower to the belle of the advanced economies ball. As price pressures continue to ease, the BoE is expected to loosen its monetary stance further, unleashing pent-up consumer demand and investment. These factors have been key drivers of this improved outlook, with lower interest rates reducing borrowing costs and potentially stimulating investment and consumption.
This revised forecast signals a rerating of UK assets, with the FTSE long considered a laggard to global peers, potentially seeing renewed interest on the horizon. This is amplified by subdued outlooks for many advanced economies, positioning the UK as an attractive destination for global capital. However, the upcoming Budget could either cement Britain's phoenix-like rise from the ashes of uncertainty or see those hopes go up in smoke, with Chancellor Reeves emerging as the potential kingmaker—or breaker—of this economic resurgence.