Inflation drops to 2.5 per cent in August September 18, 2012 Inflation fell to 2.5 per cent in August, spurred by a fall in the price of gas, household equipment and clothing, according to official data out this morning from the Office for National Statistics. The Consumer Prices Index measure of inflation, fell to from 2.6 per cent in July. It was partially offset by a [...]
Businesses urge government action to boost shrinking economy August 31, 2012 Britain’s government must take bold steps to boost investment, and the Bank of England should drop its resistance to buying company loans in order to get the economy out of recession, the country’s largest business lobby said on Friday. The call by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) for sweeping, potentially debt-financed measures to boost [...]
Troika will end Greek bailout without more spending details September 9, 2012 THE TROIKA of international lenders who support Greek finances have questioned some of the measures included in a €12bn (£9.6bn) austerity package prepared by the government, a senior Greek official said yesterday. The inspectors from the European Commission, the ECB and the IMF returned to Athens on Friday to conclude a report on Greece’s progress [...]
Greece must stop hitting snooze and wake up to economic reform October 17, 2012 WHEN the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and European finance ministers meet today at the European Union (EU) summit, they are bound to butt heads over the decision to release Greece’s next €31.5bn bailout installment. The prospect of default may be a possibility once again. European leaders and international lenders will likely come to an eleventh-hour [...]
Rules against aggressive tax avoidance delayed December 11, 2012 NEW rules that will ban companies and individuals from engaging in aggressive tax avoidance schemes will not be implemented until at least summer 2013, according to draft legislation released yesterday. The General Anti Avoidance Rule (GAAR), which will give HMRC the power to identify and act against legal tax arrangements that are “abusive”, was due to be enforced [...]
As the euro crisis continues, could a country leave the single currency in the near future? September 30, 2012 YES Jonathan Loynes The recent reduction in the likelihood that one or more countries will leave the euro reflects the European Central Bank’s (ECB) pledge to do “whatever it takes” to save the single currency. But, there is still huge uncertainty over whether the ECB will follow up its words with decisive action. Problem countries [...]
As the euro crisis continues, could a country leave the single currency in the near future? September 30, 2012 YES Jonathan Loynes The recent reduction in the likelihood that one or more countries will leave the euro reflects the European Central Bank’s (ECB) pledge to do “whatever it takes” to save the single currency. But, there is still huge uncertainty over whether the ECB will follow up its words with decisive action. Problem countries [...]
UK falls to 12th in economic freedom table September 18, 2012 THE UK dropped four places in worldwide rankings of economic freedom, falling out of the top ten for the first time since the early 1980s, a Canadian think-tank said yesterday. The UK dropped from eighth to 12th – leapfrogged by Ireland, the United Arab Emirates, Finland and Mauritius, according to the Fraser Institute. The United [...]
Accountants can boost UK exports October 16, 2012 Smaller firms need advice before they can expand abroad LEGACY was one of the reasons London won the rights to host the unquestionably successful Olympic and Paralympic games. We all get a warm glow when one of our medallists pops up on Question of Sport or we read statistics showing that thousands are trying new [...]
John Cridland wants to get UK building again November 15, 2012 JOHN Cridland is one of the few people who could get excited by the prospect of working next to a building site for six years. The view from his office window in London’s Centrepoint building is currently a mess of cement mixers, trucks and cranes as the Crossrail construction crews set about transforming Tottenham Court [...]