The changing demographic trends in London

Barking and Dagenham, in east London. With the fastest-growing birth rate in greater London over the decade to 2010 (up 58%), it also faces the biggest increase in demand for school places. At primary-school level this is set to rise by 43% between the academic years 2010-11 and 2015-16 (see map). Link

Mortgage crisis in the UK

Bank of England published a very interesting survey of household financial conditions in the UK. The following graph shows quarterly percentage changes in the house purchase and remortgaging dynamics in the UK between Q2:2007 and Q1:2010. As the graph indicates, there is an excess volatillity in the housing market as a result of loose monetary policy and unpredictable mortgaging changes. Housing markets reflect the instability of the UK economy.

House purchase and remortgaging dynamics in the UK

Source: Bank of England, 2010 (link)