Brexit: Some big warning signs of 2019 are lighting up for UK economy

Avoiding a chaotic no-deal Brexit could see the economy bounce back in the second half of next year with household spending and labor markets aiding a recovery

Retailers are complaining about an abysmal holiday season, house prices are weakening, businesses are holding back investment and the swooning pound is fueling inflation. With just a few months until the March 29 deadline to exit the world’s biggest trading bloc, there’s no clarity on whether Britain will crash out of the European Union without a divorce deal.

While Bank of England Governor Mark Carney says the financial sector is ready for whatever comes, and that interest rates may need to move up or down after Brexit, markets are paring bets on any more increases in the benchmark next year. The