Brexit: Government’s latest no-deal planning revealed October 8, 2019 Michael Gove has revealed his latest set of plans for no-deal Brexit planning, just minutes after Downing Street appeared to admit talks had collapsed. The latest report, which government had promised to publish regularly in the run-up to Hallowe’en, sets out plans for a “significant increase” in the number of customs agents at the borders [...]
UK retail industry battles ‘toughest ever’ trading conditions July 22, 2019 The health of the UK retail industry is on the brink of falling to record lows as shops battle some of the “toughest trading conditions they’ve ever experienced”. The Retail Health Index, which takes into account consumer demand, gross margins and costs, fell from 77 to 76 in the second quarter, financial services firm KPMG [...]
Morrisons extends Amazon partnership as it delivers flat half-year sales September 12, 2019 Morrisons has posted flat sales in the first half as it unveiled a new multi-year partnership with Amazon Prime amid challenging conditions in the grocery sector Read more: Morrisons to expand Amazon online delivery service across the UK The figures Morrisons like-for-like sales excluding fuel and VAT ticked up 0.2 per cent in the six [...]
Hot weather fails to heat up high street retail sales in August September 6, 2019 Bricks and mortar retailers suffered a further blow last month as soaring temperatures failed to heat up high street sales. Like-for-like in store sales dropped 0.1 per cent in August from a base of minus 2.7 per cent in the same month last year as retailers were unable to convert rising footfall into purchases. Read [...]
Warm-weather pub trips boost tepid consumer spending growth in April May 8, 2019 Consumer spending growth slowed in April but was boosted by last month’s sunshine, resulting in double-digit growth in the amount spent at restaurants and pubs, according to the latest data from Barclaycard. Read more: Confidence hits new low but spending climbs amid sunny weather Overall consumer spending grew 2.5 per cent in April compared to [...]
Warm-weather pub trips boost tepid consumer spending growth in April May 8, 2019 Consumer spending growth slowed in April but was boosted by last month’s sunshine, resulting in double-digit growth in the amount spent at restaurants and pubs, according to the latest data from Barclaycard. Read more: Confidence hits new low but spending climbs amid sunny weather Overall consumer spending grew 2.5 per cent in April compared to [...]
UK house prices rise at fastest rate since April, finds Halifax September 6, 2019 UK house prices climbed 1.8 per cent higher in August compared to the same time last year, Halifax’s House Price Index revealed today. That is the fastest rate of growth since April’s 2.6 per cent increase, Halifax’s figures showed. However, revisions to modernise Halifax’s measure means previous lofty growth of 4.1 per cent in July [...]
DEBATE: Is the UK economy already in a recession? September 6, 2019 Is the UK economy already in a recession? Dr Victoria Bateman, lecturer and fellow in Economics at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, says YES. Recession. It’s the only thing as guaranteed as death and taxes. Brexit or not, we all know we’re due one. But how low will we go – and for how long? [...]
Britain must become a leader in financial education January 9, 2020 The UK has one of the most thriving and competitive finance industries in the world — a fact that is often overlooked by the public. We know that the financial services industry is battling to improve levels of trust and engagement on the back of a series of scandals and public apathy. Yet, strong personal [...]
The Long Read: The coronavirus loan scheme risks failing the people it was designed to help April 19, 2020 When the chancellor, Rishi Sunak, vowed that the government would do “whatever it takes” to keep businesses alive during the pandemic, the immediate reaction from corporate Britain was one of relief. The pledge to pay the wages of employees unable to work and the ambition behind the £350bn package of support (combining grants, sector-specific relief [...]