Whitbread’s Premier Inn recovery ‘ahead of expectations’ despite losses October 26, 2021 Premier Inn owner Whitbread has said the budget hotel chain’s recovery in the past six months has been ahead of expectations. The hotel chain, which was battered by the sudden drop in tourism and overnight stays last year, has enjoyed a strong spike in demand since mid-May, Whitbread said in its interim results for the [...]
Taxman grabs 30 per cent more from Brits over last five years November 23, 2022 The amount of money the taxman takes away from Brits has climbed 30 per cent over the last five years, City A.M. analysis of official figures shows. In the year to 31 October this year, HMRC collected £757bn in taxes, up from £584bn in 2015/16, stats out this week reveal. The rise in tax revenues [...]
Freedom Day: UK runs out of lateral flow tests the day lockdown lifts July 19, 2021 The UK has run out of lateral flow tests for Covid-19, the same day most lockdown restrictions were lifted in the country, which has been coined ‘Freedom Day’. Those trying to buy testing kits from the government’s website have been told that ‘no more tests can be ordered’ and to ‘try again tomorrow’. It comes [...]
After Brexit border backdown, the EU in new push with Astrazeneca to get more vaccine deliveries February 1, 2021 Talks between Astrazeneca and the European Commission will continue, despite strains, so that the bloc can recieve more of the pharmaceutical's Covid-19 vaccine before the end of March.
Double-digit footfall boost for London and South East as shops fear cost of living crunch will deter customers April 5, 2022 Retail footfall saw a double-digit boost last month in London and the South East, thanks to a bout of sunshine. London and the south East saw a 11.3 per cent rise in footfall to retail destinations in March. This represented footfall down 22 per cent on pre-pandemic levels. Across the UK, footfall was up 9.9 [...]
Spate of downbeat economic news knocks UK business confidence November 1, 2021 The spate of negative news about the health of the UK economy has knocked businesses’ confidence. A combination of supply chain snarl ups, soaring inflation, severe worker shortages and uncertainty over the trajectory of Covid-19 has pulled confidence levels back from highs of 27 per cent in June, research by the Institute of Directors (IoD) [...]
Volatile equity market swells state-owned bank’s balance sheet September 22, 2021 A strong performing equity market amid pandemic-induced volatitlity swelled the state-owned development bank’s balance sheet. The British Business Bank (BBB) extended £89bn of loans to UK businesses last year, up £80bn from last year, as businesses scrambled for credit during the pandemic. The BBB extended just £8bn in loans before the pandemic, highlighting the scale [...]
Complacent monetary policy has driven an inflation crisis, not businesses’ price hikes January 28, 2022 Inflation hit 5.4 per cent in December, its highest level since 1992. It is widely expected to reach seven per cent in the next few months – it has already reached that level in the US. There are several reasons why inflation has raised its ugly head again. Demand for gas and oil has outstripped [...]
Mini halts production amid semiconductor chip shortage February 23, 2022 Car maker Mini has been forced to halt production at its Oxford factory amid a worldwide shortage of semi-conductor chips.
Our productivity problem won’t solve itself by magic, Britain needs some real ambition November 22, 2022 It’s high time businesses stop expecting output to grow of its own accord. Neither their companies nor the country can afford to wait.