Car registrations surge to highest point since 2008 October 4, 2013 September has seen a surge in car registrations with the highest monthly total since March 2008. The upswing in private sector growth has fuelled customers returning to the market after a prolonged period of withdrawal. Increased fuel efficiency has also helped to drive down running costs leaving a more attractive prospect for consumers. Success with [...]
Industry beats growth forecast for September November 6, 2013 BRITISH industry finished the third quarter with a bang, surpassing expectations with a boost to production, according to official figures released yesterday. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed that industrial output swelled by 0.9 per cent from August to September, and is now 2.2 per cent higher than it was in the same month [...]
Help to Buy may hinder business investment October 15, 2013 Capital Economics has warned that the government's controversial Help to Buy scheme may hinder business investment. By making mortgage lending more attractive to banks than other types of lending, credit may be diverted from firms to households. If Help to Buy were to drive up house prices, leading to more mortgage lending, business loans could [...]
UK’s industrial recovery on track with production rise in the third quarter November 6, 2013 The industrial production of UK companies rose by 0.9 per cent in September, beating expectations of a 0.7 per cent increase. Production output rose by 0.6 per cent between the second quarter 2013 and the third. Manufacturing output for September also went up, by 1.2 per cent, beating expectations of a 1.1 per cent increase, [...]
Regulator chief Martin Wheatley says that reform means challenges will give way to fairness October 23, 2013 Chief executive of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) Martin Wheatley will speak tonight about lessons learnt and challenges ahead for the financial world, highlighting the importance of fairness and cultural reform in preventing future crises. The regulator will say that there is no room for complacency, despite an improving situation: “poor conduct is still a [...]
Car registrations up for 18th month ahead of September plate change September 5, 2013 Car registrations are up for the 18th successive month in the UK, according to new data from the SMMT, as the car market grows 10.9 per cent in August. There were only 65,937 vehicles registered this month, as buyers prepare for the plate change in September. That month will typically account for 17 per cent [...]
It’s time to break the Whitehall silo and put startup discipline into government December 3, 2013 THE CURSE of Norman Lamont makes politicians wary of mentioning the “green shoots” of recovery. But when the data show growth of 0.4 per cent, 0.7 per cent and 0.8 per cent in the first three quarters of 2013, it’s clear. The UK is off life support. Sure, the recovery is heavily consumption-led, with exports [...]
Berkeley sees forward sales break £1.5bn September 2, 2013 AN IMPROVING housing market and a rise in the number of UK buyers has helped forward sales at housebuilder Berkeley Group top £1.5bn. Speaking at the group’s annual general meeting yesterday, chairman Tony Pidgley said trading in the four months to 31 August was in line with expectations and that Berkeley was on track to [...]
Accountants predict robust UK growth to bounce back in 2014 September 15, 2013 AFTER good growth figures were revealed for the second quarter, a major group of accountants has raised its growth forecast for the UK, citing the strongest business confidence since 2010. The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) announced today that it expects 2.3 per cent growth next year, after 1.5 per cent [...]
Number of mortgages in the UK rise to December 2009 high September 24, 2013 The number of mortgages issued by the BBA was 38.2k in August. The figure was down on expections of 38.6k, following July's 37.2k, but still at a high last seen in December 2009. UK unsecured lending is rising, the BBA have said, although 'There was a fall in total business borrowing levels in August.' Net [...]