UK house prices hit ‘hat-trick’ new high, climbing more than £5.5k since March April 25, 2022 The average price of a home has hit its third record high in just three months, as spiralling costs dampen the hopes of Londoners looking to climb the ladder. Prices have jumped 1.6 per cent since March – the equivalent of £5,537 – to £360,101 on average across the UK, according to Rightmove today. With [...]
Ted Baker seller in the red as jobs cut and stores closed amid focus switch to Suit Direct August 23, 2024 A group which sells Ted Baker clothes across the UK slumped into the red as it significantly restructured itself to focus on its Suit Direct brand. As part of the move, Baird Group disposed of its license to sell Ben Sherman clothes, closed unprofitable stores, cut more than 100 jobs and appointed a new chief [...]
Jubilee 2022: what’s changed for savers since 1952? June 1, 2022 It’s 70 years since Queen Elizabeth II took the throne. How have some of our key financial metrics – from longevity to inflation, interest rates to investment returns – moved over the decades? The seven-decade reign of Queen Elizabeth II has seen transformations in many aspects of our lives. That includes sweeping changes to the [...]
Persimmon reaps rewards of climbing house prices as profit and revenue inch higher March 2, 2022 Persimmon pre-tax profit has risen by more than £180m in the past 12 months, as new home completions and average selling prices rise. The housebuilder completed 14,551 homes in the year to 31 December, up from 13,575 in 2020. While the average selling price of homes has also increased by more than £6,500 to £237,078, [...]
Tax hikes will cause national pain but London can still build its own growth plan November 21, 2022 Jeremy Hunt faced a difficult balancing act in the Autumn Statement last week. The state of affairs he outlined, albeit unsurprising, was still a stark warning about the precarious nature of our economy: a £55bn black hole in the nation’s finances. We now know how the government will seek to restore parity in the national [...]
Warnings housing market may ‘enter bubble territory’ if lending checks eased December 6, 2021 The Bank of England is readying itself to relax mortgage lending rules despite fears it will trigger a housing bubble, it has been reported. The Telegraph reported that policymakers are looking at relaxing affordability checks for borrowers. The rule changes are being mulled amid a review of market restrictions this will finish shortly. Officials are [...]
Johnson wanted to build a bridge to Ireland but can’t build enough homes February 24, 2022 Of all the mistakes made during the Referendum campaign by Team Remain, former Chancellor George Osborne was guilty of a whopper in May 2016. A month before people cast their vote, the Tory numbers man warned that Brexit could knock 18 per cent off house prices. At least one younger commuter on the train home [...]
Construction sector back in boom mode as price increases slow March 4, 2022 After months of heavy price increases, the rapid cost hikes in the construction sector showed further signs of easing off in February, according to fresh data published this morning. Builders reported they were still facing problems in supply chains, and that prices for materials and other inputs rose in February. But the reported rise was [...]
Paragon Banking: Buy-to-let specialist posts surge in profit and raises buyback June 5, 2024 Paragon Banking Group, one of Britain's leading buy-to-let mortgage lenders, has reported a surge in profit and boosted its share buyback programme, despite a drop in home loan volumes as higher interest rates put off borrowers.
Onshore wind set for revival as backbench pressure weighs on Government November 28, 2022 The seven year de-facto ban on new onshore wind projects could finally be lifted, after Grant Shapps hinted at a possible U-turn.