Confidence in UK businesses to improve in 2023 December 31, 2022 Confidence in prospects for UK’s economy are set to improve in 2023, according to an IoD index. The Institute of Directors (IoD) Directors’ Economic Confidence Index measures business leader optimism in prospects for the UK economy. It rose to -58 in December, up from -64 in November with improvements in expectations for revenue, employment, investment [...]
NatWest chief Rose receives Damehood in King’s first new year’s honours list December 30, 2022 The head of high street and still partly taxpayer owned NatWest Alison Rose will receive a Damehood in King Charles’s first new year’s honours list since succeeding The Queen. Rose, 53, became the first woman to head a top UK lender when she was made chief executive in November 2019. She has been awarded a [...]
Not-so-happy New Year: Hospitality bosses expect weaker trade due to strikes December 30, 2022 Hospitality leaders say venues could see weaker trade over the key New Year period after sales were knocked by strike action. But there are signs for optimism amid more bookings and strong demand over the festive period for other areas of the sector. The Night Time Industries Association, which has more than 1,400 members including [...]
Families facing ‘groundhog year’ in 2023 as living standards to be squeezed December 30, 2022 Families are facing a “groundhog year” as further squeezes on living standards take place in 2023, a think-tank has warned. While the year ahead may offer economic policymakers some relief, with signs inflation will ease and interest rates peak lower than feared, family finances face a repeat of 2022’s squeeze as the cost-of-living crisis deepens, [...]
2023 set to be just as ‘horrendous’ as 2022 with falling pay and soaring energy bills December 30, 2022 Next year looks set to be just as “horrendous” for many families’ living standards as this year, as they are hit with falling pay and soaring energy, tax and mortgage bills, a think tank has warned. Households face a cost-of-living “groundhog year” with disposable incomes plummeting even further than in 2022, which saw the biggest [...]
Scottish Widows: Unmarried couples missing out on life insurance payouts December 30, 2022 Many unmarried couples with life insurance could be at risk of not receiving a payout if one of the partners dies, a survey suggests. Just over half (52 per cent) of unmarried people know if their partner has a life insurance policy, while 43 per cent said their other half has no plans to ensure [...]
House price growth falls for fourth consecutive month, worst run since 2008 December 30, 2022 House prices have plummeted for the fourth consecutive month by 2.8 per cent in December, the worst run since the financial crisis of 2008. Nationwide’s latest House Price Index shows this month proved to be another sharp slow down in growth down from 4.4 per cent in November. House prices fell by 0.1 per cent [...]
Supertax on private jets could raise £1.4bn a year December 30, 2022 A supertax on private jets should be introduced to fund public transport improvements, according to a pressure group. Campaign for Better Transport (CBT) wants private jet passengers to pay £780 in air passenger duty (APD) for every flight from the UK. That could raise around £1.4 billion each year, CBT said. Currently, private jet passengers [...]
Revealed: Blair wanted to regulate papers for ‘accuracy’ of reporting, former top aide says December 30, 2022 A key official in the team of former prime minister Tony Blair wanted to regulate newspapers for the “accuracy” of their reporting, according to newly-released official papers. Files released by the National Archives show Mr Blair’s principal private secretary Jeremy Heywood (a future cabinet secretary) became exasperated by what he regarded as the inaccurate reporting [...]
In memoriam: The Queen, Pele, Shane Warne, business leaders and celebs who died in 2022 December 30, 2022 The death of Her Majesty the Queen punctuated a year dominated by economic turmoil, the Russian invasion of Ukraine and political upheaval. As 2022 winds down, it’s time to reflect on those who passed on, from the world of politics, sport, entertainment and, business. Queen Elizabeth’s death aged 96 after more than 70 years on [...]