Watch out Mervyn, the press are starting to turn

The UK press are starting to question Mr. King's competence...


The Guardian

His letter to George Osborne had a familiar ring about it. Yes, inflation remained well above target, but that was due to the weakness of sterling, rising commodity prices and the increase in VAT. For some in the markets, this explanation is wearing thin, and has become as unconvincing as the boy who tells teacher that the dog ate his homework.

The Telegraph

Cheap money has thus not only fuelled inflation, but has created a climate in which talk of any rate rise triggers concern that we may be tipped back into recession. Stuck in this vicious circle, it is no surprise that Mr King openly acknowledged yesterday that the MPC is split on the future direction of policy.

BBC

Mervyn King's 10th letter to Number 11 Downing Street is similar to many of the other ones he's written. In his view, the 4% rise in the CPI in the past 12 months is unfortunate - but temporary, and almost entirely driven by factors beyond the Bank's control. He insists that the MPC has not "lost control of inflation".

The Spectator

Now that today’s inflation figures are up, to a predictable and predicted 4.0 percent on CPI and 5.2 percent on RPI, we can expect the usual response. Nothing from the government (even though the declining standard of living will eclipse cuts as the no.1 problem of 2011); plenty of shocked news stories; and, then, the round of commentators saying that Mervyn King should “hold his nerve,” and not increase the absurdly low base rates of 0.5 percent. Inflation is temporary, he says, and should be okay again this time next year (that’s what he said about the start of 2011).