Oil price hike 'could stifle recovery'
Soaring oil prices could 'snuff out' hopes of an economic recovery, economists warned yesterday.
'All bets are off' if oil goes above $200 a barrel.
Since the cost of petrol crashed through the £5-a-gallon mark, the impact has spread beyond motorists and haulage companies.
A report from the respected Ernst & Young Item Club predicted that the British economy will experience only modest growth next year - and only if the cost of oil stays below $100 a barrel.
However, the price of crude oil last night rose $3.89 to a fresh high of $120.21.
Oil prices have risen by around 400% during the past seven years and by 25% in the first four months of 2008 alone.
Hetal Mehta of Ernst & Young warned that a price above $150 would have 'grave implications' for Britain.
Such prices would mean Ernst & Young's forecast for economic growth next year would be cut from its current prediction of 1.5% back to 1.1%.
She added that if the cost surged above $200 a barrel 'all bets are off'.
Algerian energy minister Chakib Khelil, a member of the Opec oil cartel, recently warned that this higher figure could very soon be a reality.
Despite a recent switch to green sources of fuel and power, Britain is still heavily reliant on oil.
It is used in the production of plastics, such as containers and bottles, and manufacturers are starting to pass on the rising cost of transportation and raw materials to consumers. This inflationary pressure-is likely to convince the Bank of England-on Thursday to keep interest rates in check at 5%.
The picture could be just as worrying in the years ahead. Ernst & Young predicted that painfully high fuel costs could limit growth to 2% in 2010.
Many commentators had expected a 2.7% growth rate for that year. Even more worryingly, the rate of inflation would be almost 6%.
Miss Mehta said: 'Our predictions don't take into account the impact on public confidence that this type of oil price increase would have and how that would feed back into the economy, so we may well be underestimating the potential downside.'
Most watched Money videos
- BMW's Vision Neue Klasse X unveils its sports activity vehicle future
- 'Now even better': Nissan Qashqai gets a facelift for 2024 version
- German car giant BMW has released the X2 and it has gone electric!
- MG unveils new MG3 - Britain's cheapest full-hybrid car
- Iconic Dodge Charger goes electric as company unveils its Daytona
- The new Volkswagen Passat - a long range PHEV that's only available as an estate
- Skoda reveals Skoda Epiq as part of an all-electric car portfolio
- How to invest to beat tax raids and make more of your money
- MailOnline asks Lexie Limitless 5 quick fire EV road trip questions
- Paul McCartney's psychedelic Wings 1972 double-decker tour bus
- Mail Online takes a tour of Gatwick's modern EV charging station
- BMW meets Swarovski and releases BMW i7 Crystal Headlights Iconic Glow
- Boss of vape company Chill Brands suspended over 'use of...
- Thames Water customers face increase in bills as...
- MARKET REPORT: Retailers lead the way on FTSE's historic day
- Takeovers leave UK stock market facing 'death by a...
- Footsie hits a record as Investors eye lower interest...
- CVC Capital Partners' float to hand private equity tycoon...
- Homes for sale at five-year high, says Zoopla: Will house...
- New energy deal is 13% a year cheaper than Ofgem price...
- Struggling Asda promises to cut £3.8bn debt pile
- Mortgage rate rises announced by five lenders: HSBC,...
- Pothole-related breakdowns up 10 per cent in a year as...
- Aston Martin DBX707 revamp: Super SUV gains new interior...
- Hipgnosis shares surge after group receives Blackstone...
- Grindr faces lawsuit over claims it shared HIV data with...
- legal battle turns ugly at Revolution Beauty after former...
- Asda profits near £1.1bn as Britain's third-biggest...
- Tyman agrees £788m takeover by US-based Quanex
- Royal Mail steps up defence in bid battle with 'Czech...