Is HS2 holding up the UK’s construction industry? Output up but housebuilding continues to fall April 6, 2023 Civil engineering rose at its highest level since 2009 in March, according to a leading global index which measures the monthly construction output of the UK economy. At 50.7 in March, the headline seasonally adjusted S&P Global /CIPS UK Construction Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) – which measures month-on-month changes in total industry activity – was [...]
EU Commission unveils price limit for gas price cap ahead of crunch talks November 22, 2022 The European Union's executive arm has proposed a year-long gas price cap of €275 per megawatt hour on the Dutch benchmark.
Budget: ‘Brexit pub guarantee’ means ale is 11p cheaper than supermarket booze but wine guzzlers will pay more March 15, 2023 Beer and other draught products in pubs will be 11p cheaper than in supermarkets, Jeremy Hunt has announced, calling the tax relief a “Brexit pub guarantee” which will come into effect from April 1. In the Spring Budget this afternoon, the Chancellor said that the measure would not have been possible if the UK remained [...]
Recession clouds lift over UK jobs market as hiring begins to recover April 12, 2023 Recession clouds are receding from the UK jobs market as companies gradually regain confidence about hiring workers following a batch of better than expected economic data since the turn of the year, new figures out today reveal. Firms are dipping their toes back in the recruitment market, lured by household spending holding up better than [...]
Saudi Aramco unveils record profits of £133.9bn after oil price surge March 12, 2023 Saudi Arabian oil giant Aramco reported a record annual profit of £133.7bn ($161.1bn) for 2022 - powered by higher energy prices.
European inflation up after months of decline casting doubt on ECB interest rate cuts January 5, 2024 Inflation plaguing Europe increased to 2.9 per cent in December, after seven straight monthly declines, figures show. The rise in price levels cast doubt on predictions for swift interest rate cuts from the European Central Bank (ECB). The figure released on Friday was up from the 2.4 per cent annual inflation recorded in November – [...]
I used to donate hundreds of thousands – but I am no longer a Conservative Party donor June 3, 2024 Billionaire businessman John Caudwell believes neither the Conservatives nor the other main parties understand the scale of the threat – and the opportunity – climate change represents, and says the future of the planet is on the ballot at this election I was once a Conservative Party donor. Not now. Climate change is one of [...]
Economic performance under Labour and Conservative governments: a reckoning May 29, 2024 Voter apathy over the upcoming election is rational – history suggests the economic outcome will be broadly the same regardless of whether Labour or the Conservatives form the next government, says Paul Ormerod The election campaign has kicked off and already the air is thick with promises and counter-promises. Despite all the efforts of politicians [...]
UK economy shockingly grows in November on back of World Cup pub boost, raising hopes of shallow recession January 13, 2023 The UK economy expanded in November, smashing downbeat market expectations and signalling the coming recession could be short lived, official figures out today reveal. Gross domestic product (GDP) climbed 0.1 per cent in November, defying analysts’ bets on a 0.2 per cent contraction, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said today. The expansion was driven [...]
Will Rishi Sunak’s clampdown on ‘sick note culture’ tackle long-term sickness? April 20, 2024 "Reforms to fit notes...won’t help the 2.8m people currently out of work due to their long-term health conditions," David Finch, assistant director at the Health Foundation, said.