The barbershop quartet: Four lessons on inflation from the hair salon

Will rates go high and tight - or be cut right down?

For observers of consumer spending, April 2021 will deliver something special. In England, this month may come to be regarded as the 'age of the great haircut', as the nation emerges from its lockdown chrysalis and heads to the hairdresser.

For statisticians around the world, the rush back to the hair salon, barbershop and hospitality venues will drive green shoots of economic recovery into the data, but the near-term behaviour of the consumer warrants closer analysis - particularly with regard to the knock-on impacts on inflation. Whatever camp you are in - either expecting a roar back to the 1920s or a more protracted economic recovery - it is important to read between the lines on consumer spending trends as they evolve. Inflation, deflation or reflation? Balance is essential as rate debate intensifies Many near-te...