UK public finances: Still no scope to loosen the fiscal stance in the Budget next month as January public sector net borrowing shows record surplus but falls short of expectations February 19, 2016 The UK recorded the largest public finances surplus for any January since 2008, but came in below expectations, indicating no scope to loosen the country's fiscal stance in the Budget next month. In January public sector net borrowing showed a surplus of £11.2bn, data from the Office for National Statistics showed, but was short of [...]
UK inflation: We’re back in the black as inflation moves into positive territory December 15, 2015 UK inflation rose to 0.1 per cent in November, figures by the Office for National Statistics showed today – putting the UK back into positive territory for the first time since July. But analysts were less than optimistic about its ability to stay in the black. The figures showed rises in transport costs and alcohol [...]
School of hard knocks: How to cut the soaring cost of private education May 26, 2016 When it comes to our children, a good education is priceless. But if you’re talking about sending them to a private school, there is a hefty price tag, and it has been rising precipitously. To send a child to a private day school from 2015 to 2028 will set you back an average of £286,000, [...]
With consumer price index inflation inching up to 0.1 per cent, could the period of persistently low inflation be about to end? December 15, 2015 Kallum Pickering, senior UK economist at Berenberg, says Yes Falling oil prices and sterling appreciation have exerted strong but temporary effects on headline inflation, bringing it to zero for most of 2015. But even if there is more disinflationary pressure to come from oil in the near term, prices cannot fall forever. Eventually, the oil [...]
Chutney Mary restaurant review September 22, 2015 Chutney Mary 73 St James’s St, SW1A 1PH FOOD ★★★★☆ VALUE ★★☆☆☆ ATMOSPHERE ★★★★☆ Cost for two with wine: £210 All over the country, people are eating. They’re putting food in their mouths and grinding it into a paste for their digestive tracts to deal with at a later date. In lots of cases, they’re not even preparing [...]
FTSE rallies on expectations of a US rate rise – London Report December 17, 2015 RISES in Dixons Carphone and Pearson pulled the markets up for a second session in a row, ahead of a 25 basis point rise in US interest rates. The blue-chip FTSE 100 index was up 43.40 points, or 0.7 per cent at 6,061.19 points by the close, outperforming the broader European market. The gains were [...]
Focus On Shadwell: Good transport and pubs mean promising times ahead in East London February 23, 2016 St Chad – after whom east London’s Chadwelle, now known as Shadwell, is named – is jokingly referred to as the patron saint of botched elections. This modern nickname was applied after the 2000 US election, when irregular “chads” (punched holes) may have defaced enough ballots cost Al Gore the 2000 US election. Chad is [...]
Black Friday 2015 UK: Fewer fights – but also fewer deals reported by shoppers as Tesco turns away non-Black Friday bargain hunters November 27, 2015 Bargain hunters are experiencing a less stressful Black Friday so far – but they are also reporting fewer must-have deals on sale, as retailers attempt to keep better control on things than last year. Last year stores including Tesco opened their doors at midnight – this year those participating in Black Friday today opened at [...]
Black Friday 2015 UK: Police in Scotland and Manchester warn over deal scams and bargain hunter violence November 27, 2015 Police have warned bargain hunters to be vigilant on Black Friday, claiming they could become victims of online scams – or in-store violence – on what is set to be the biggest shopping day of the year. Police in Greater Manchester have told shoppers that they must check they are not being ripped off before [...]
Black Friday 2015 UK date and deals: The best offers to expect on 27 November, plus who were the winners and losers from last year October 14, 2015 Black Friday is less than seven weeks away – it falls on 27 November this year – and already consumer sites are full of predictions for which deals we'll be falling over ourselves (and other people) to pick up in 2015. We spent £810m last year, with John Lewis celebrating its biggest sales week of [...]