Lifting public sector pay in line with inflation would cost £3.3bn by 2020 says think tank November 15, 2017 Raising public sector pay in line with inflation at the Autumn Budget next week would cost £3.3bn by 2020, according to new analysis by a think tank due to be published today. While the gross cost to the Exchequer of a pay rise for government employees would be £5.8bn, the net effect on the public [...]
Ramping up tariffs to spite Donald Trump is economic self-harm March 13, 2018 It is not so much what Donald Trump did, but why he justified doing it, that has got trade experts and US allies worried over the past week. In the grand scheme of things, the President’s decision to impose tariffs of 25 per cent and 10 per cent on steel and aluminium is not an [...]
Nationwide UK house price index: Annual growth rate picked up in October November 1, 2017 The annual rate of house price growth rose to 2.5 per cent in October, from 2.3 per cent in September, according to the latest Nationwide house price index. Prices went up 0.2 per cent on a monthly basis, down slightly from 0.4 per cent growth in the previous month. Nationwide’s chief economist Robert Gardner said: [...]
Deputy mayor for transport slams government for abandoning London’s transport network as TfL faces near £1bn deficit February 21, 2018 London’s deputy mayor for transport will issue a rebuke of government today for abandoning the capital’s transport network as Transport for London (TfL) faces a near £1bn operational deficit next year. The organisation is dealing with the loss of government funding, as well as a surprise fall in passenger numbers, and tonight, Val Shawcross will [...]
Millions of gig economy workers miss out on auto-enrolment and a workplace pension November 8, 2017 Millions of British gig economy workers are missing out on a workplace pension as auto-enrolment bypasses the sector, according to a study released today. Gig economy workers could boost the size of their pension pot by up to £75,000 if a form of auto-enrolment were extended to cover all workers, according to research by the [...]
Patisserie Valerie’s parent company is hungry for acquisitions, says chairman Luke Johnson November 27, 2017 Luke Johnson, the casual dining sector veteran and executive chairman of Patisserie Holdings, has told City A.M. that his business is currently hungry for acquisitions. Patisserie Holdings, which owns cafe chains Patisserie Valerie, Druckers, Philpotts, Baker & Spice and Flour Power City, revealed in results today that it had £21m of cash on its balance [...]
Digital Innovators: Q&A with Chris Sheldrick, co-founder and CEO of what3words February 8, 2018 what3words has divided the world into 3m x 3m squares, each with a unique address made from three dictionary words, thus offering the simplest way to communicate location. Last year what3words was identified as one of 50 of the freshest and most inspiring digital companies using technology and innovation to shake up their sectors in [...]
DEBATE: Is the Economists for Free Trade £135bn figure realistic? August 22, 2017 DEBATE: Is the Economists for Free Trade £135bn figure realistic? YES – Professor Graeme Leach, member of Economists for Free Trade. The impact of unilateral free trade on an economy is not rocket science, but it is enormously powerful. EU membership means surrounding the UK with a protectionist wall from tariffs against the rest of [...]
Comptoir Libanais losses widen as casual dining sector is served further bad news September 15, 2017 The UK’s casual dining sector received more bad news this morning as the parent of Comptoir Libanais restaurants reported increased pre-tax losses. It follows similar results and warnings from several other businesses in the casual dining sector, all of which have warned on a difficult trading outlook, especially in parts of London. Read more: Out [...]
Exclusive: Hard Brexit will lead to Operation Stack-level queues on a daily basis, claims British Ports Association boss September 7, 2017 A hard Brexit could lead to Operation Stack-level queues on a daily basis, the chief executive of the British Ports Association has said. Richard Ballantyne told City A.M. that ports on both sides of the Channel faced extreme lorry tailbacks, akin to those that caused chaos in 2015 during the Calais migrant crisis, if no [...]