UK retail sales ticked up in August in a summertime boost September 3, 2024 UK retail sales ticked up in August, according to fresh data, after consumer confidence was boosted by good weather.
How to pick the best UK small companies to invest in September 3, 2024 When it comes to investing in the stock market, we all know the UK is cheap. But smaller companies are even cheaper.
‘Little luxuries’ and warm weather boost card spending September 3, 2024 The summer heatwave, along with the ‘sweet treat economy’ pushed card spending to return to growth in August, although it remained below consumer inflation. Card spending grew by one per cent in August, below the CPIH inflation rate of 3.1 per cent. Almost half of consumers said they continued to spend on small, luxury purchases [...]
‘No plans’ to raise council tax but cut to discount not ruled out September 2, 2024 The government has no plans to increase English council taxes, Angela Rayner confirmed, but she declined to say whether she would scrap the single person discount to the bill. The deputy Prime Minister, who is also the secretary of state for housing, communities and local government, said her government “is about making sure working people [...]
Innovate UK U-turns on female founder grants after outrage September 2, 2024 Innovate UK has promised to grant awards to a total of 50 business projects as part of its Women in Innovation funding competition after hundreds of founders came together to criticise its decision to only hand out 25 awards. The group was criticised by female business leaders after announcing that it intended to only award [...]
Easyhotel chief hails ‘era of the mega-event’ as driving force behind bookings surge September 2, 2024 The boss of budget chain Easyhotel said the company had the rising cost of ‘mega-event’ tickets to thank for its recent surge in revenue, which rose by almost half in 2023. Karim Malak, who became chief executive of the British business just over two years ago, said the company had experienced a boom in bookings [...]
Vertu Motors warns on profit as UK’s new car market hits the brakes September 2, 2024 Chief executive Robert Forrester insisted he was "pleased" with Vertu's performance, despite a slowdown in new car sales.
Kurt Geiger boss joins list of retailers slamming the end of tax-free shopping September 2, 2024 Kurt Geiger’s boss has said the UK is shooting itself in the foot by not bringing back tax-free shopping for international visitors. Kurt Geiger’s chief executive, Neil Clifford, told The Times that the end of VAT-free shopping has had a “massively negative effect” on Britain”. “International tourists, whether it be Middle Eastern or American travellers, [...]
The Notebook: How I (almost) managed to get the 1p coin scrapped September 2, 2024 Former Treasury comms chief James Chapman reminisces on the time he (almost) managed to scrap the penny - and why we should persist now.
Oil and gas windfall tax increase may cost economy £13bn, trade body warns September 2, 2024 The government's changes to the windfall tax will have a £13bn hit to the economy, the sector's industry body has claimed.