UK housing market: Borrowers weigh up taking the plunge, or waiting for rates to fall further February 7, 2024 After a torrid year, the outlook for the UK’s property market is poised to improve. A number of reports have suggested that house prices will continue to drop, which will hopefully help more would-be-buyers finally get on the housing ladder, even if this negatively impacts those who already have property, and want to see its [...]
Sunak’s public popularity falls off a cliff as new poll reveals 24-point drop April 6, 2022 Rishi Sunak’s popularity has taken a mighty blow, with a new poll revealing that his approval rating has fallen by 24 points in the two weeks since his mini-budget. A YouGov poll has revealed that Sunak’s approval rating has dropped to -29 in the two weeks since his economic spring statement, which was widely criticised [...]
Offshore workers back North Sea strikes over pay dispute October 5, 2022 Hundreds of offshore workers will go on strike for ten days between now and the end of the year following an escalating dispute over pay.
FTSE 100 boosted as oil majors and miners buoyed by rising crude prices June 6, 2022 London’s FTSE 100 opened higher on Monday as gains for miners and oil majors buoyed the index. The capital’s premier index was up one per cent after an extended weekend due to Platinum Jubilee celebrations. The mid-cap domestically-focused FTSE 250 index, which is more aligned with the health of the UK economy, opened 1.2 per [...]
Train driver union announces additional rail strike over pay June 9, 2022 Train driver union Aslef has announced its members working for Hull Trains, Greater Anglia and Croydon Tramlink will strike at the end of June over salaries. Hull Trains train drivers will strike for the whole of 26 June, while Greater Anglia’s workers will walk out on 23 June, which coincides with the second of a [...]
Bank chiefs hit back at accusations of profiteering on higher interest rates February 7, 2023 Chief executives from the UK’s four largest lenders today hit back at accusations from MPs that they were too quick to charge customers more interest on their mortgages without offering higher rates on savings accounts. The bank chiefs were asked why interest rates on instant savings accounts remain around one per cent while the Bank [...]
Inflation wipes out Christmas sales as Britain stumbles toward recession January 10, 2023 Inflation is forcing Brits to rein in spending to shield their finances, prompting experts today to warn of a rise in high street bankruptcies as the country stumbles into a recession. Retail sales fell in real terms over the Christmas period, when consumers tend to splash the cash on food, new clothes and decorations, according [...]
UK housebuilding tumbles into ‘stagnation’ amid reversing economy June 8, 2022 Higher raw material costs and ongoing supply chain disruption clamped down on the UK construction sector last month, according to a closely watched survey released today. Construction businesses cut back on activity amid rapid cost inflation persisting in May making projects unviable. Just over seven in 10 firms said input prices climbed in May, driven [...]
VAT revenues rise to highest amount ever as HMRC pockets £157bn in just one year May 13, 2022 HMRC collected a record £157.2bn from VAT bills in in the last tax year, a 55 per cent jump on the £101bn collected in 2020/21, after businesses were forced to make up for VAT payments they deferred during the pandemic. Accountants have told City A.M. that HMRC’s VAT income has risen sharply after the rate [...]
Without proper financial education, this year will be a baptism of fire for Gen Z January 5, 2023 Whilst a recession has an impact on every generation, in 2023 it’s Gen Z who are going to find the transition into a sharp economic downturn the hardest. With no savings, and finding themselves just entering the world of work, this prolonged period of economic uncertainty coincides with the first time many of them will [...]