WBS Forecasts for 2017 and 2018

The figure below presents WBS’s latest (as of 24^th August 2017) probabilistic forecasts for real GDP growth and inflation – for 2017 and 2018 – as histograms.

Inspection of both the figure and Table 1 below reveals that economic growth of between 1% and 2% is forecast for 2017; and, relative to one quarter ago, the probability of lacklustre growth of less than 2% has increased from 68% to 88%. The prospects for growth in 2018 are considerably more uncertain than in 2017. Relative to one quarter ago there has been an increase, from 48% to 55%, in the probability of growth greater than 2%. And there is now a 25% chance of growth greater than 3% in 2018 up from 18% one quarter ago.

Although the pound has depreciated since the referendum last June and inflation has picked up, relative to one quarter ago, there is now a lower probability that inflation exceeds 3% in 2017 – the probability has fallen from 25% to 10%. There remains, however, a 23% probability that inflation exceeds 3% in 2018, although this probability forecast has fallen from 32% one quarter ago.

Table 1: Probability Event Forecasts for Annualised % Real GDP Growth and CPI Inflation

Year	Real GDP Growth (%, p.a.)			CPI Inflation (%, p.a.)
	Prob(growth<0%)	Prob(growth<1%)	Prob(growth<2%)	Prob(letter)	Prob(CPI<1%)	Prob(CPI>3%)
2017	<1%	2%	88%	10%	<1%	10%
2018	5%	19%	45%	33%	10%	23%

Comparison with other forecasters

The main objective of the WBS forecasting system is to provide benchmark and judgement-free probability forecasts; and to assess the risks associated with other forecasts when these do not involve a direct communication of forecast uncertainty.

Accordingly, we take the most recent forecasts from the Bank of England and the HMT panel of independent forecasts. While the Bank of England provides an explicit assessment of forecast uncertainties for the UK, via “fan charts”, the HMT Panel provides point forecasts only.

We use the WBS forecasting system histograms to compute the probability that GDP growth or inflation is greater than the other forecaster’s “point” forecast. If the point forecast from the other forecaster falls in the centre of the WBS forecast distribution we would expect this probability to be 50%. On the other hand, if the forecaster is more optimistic (pessimistic) than we suggest they should have a probability less (greater) than 50%.

Table 2: Forecast Comparison for 2017

	Real GDP Growth (%, p.a.)		CPI Inflation (%, p.a.)
	Point Forecast	Prob. of a higher outturn	Point Forecast	Prob. of a higher outturn
Bank of England[1]	1.60	0.52	2.59	0.68
HMT Panel	1.60	0.52	2.70	0.48

 

Table 3: Forecast Comparison for 2018

	Real GDP Growth (%, p.a.)		CPI Inflation (%, p.a.)
	Point Forecast	Prob. of a higher outturn	Point Forecast	Prob. of a higher outturn
Bank of England1	1.68	0.63	2.52	0.39
HMT Panel	1.40	0.71	2.60	0.36

Looking at GDP growth, Table 2 shows that both the Bank of England and the HMT Panel increasingly agree with the WBSFS that growth in 2017 will likely not seriously disappoint – there is now close to a consensus that growth in 2017 will be around 1.6%. Since Brexit, the Bank of England and the HMT Panel have revised up their GDP growth forecasts for 2017 towards the higher values the WBSFS has been consistently predicting. This is consistent with the view that Brexit has yet to disrupt historical relationships between macroeconomic variables; and accordingly these forecasters’ central forecasts are more-in-line with the judgement-free forecasts produced by the WBSFS.

But these forecasters do remain more pessimistic about GDP growth in 2018 than the WBSFS, with the WBSFS forecasting a 63% chance that growth exceeds the Bank’s central expectation and a 71% chance that growth exceeds the HMT Panel’s central expectation.

Table 2 reveals how the HMT Panel forecasts for inflation in 2017 fall closer to the centre of the WBSFS forecast distribution than those of the Bank. It also reveals that the WBSFS forecast distribution itself is narrow given that the HMT Panel and Bank forecasts are fairly similar (2.59% and 2.70%) but that the probabilities of a higher outturn in Table 2 are 20% points different. Looking ahead to 2018 the WBSFS is now forecasting, relative to one quarter ago, a slightly higher probability of lower inflation in 2018. Table 3 shows that the WBSFS now forecasts only a 39% and 36% chance that inflation in 2018 exceeds the Bank and HMT Panel forecasts, respectively, whereas one quarter ago there was more of a consensus that inflation in 2018 would be around 2.5% with the probabilities closer to 50%.

Note on the Warwick Business School Forecasting System

The Warwick Business School Forecasting System communicates forecast uncertainties for UK GDP growth and inflation in an open and transparent way – free from judgement. The system involves consideration of a range of cutting-edge econometric forecasting models, as opposed to relying on a single model which is likely misspecified.

Focus is on the production and publication of accurate probabilistic forecasts, using statistical methods, rather than constructing a narrative or story around one particular, but likely far from certain, possible set of outturns.

The WBS forecasts thus emphasise forecast uncertainties; and provide a benchmark against which one can assess the plausibility of other forecasts.