London house prices fall as UK homes grow in value January 16, 2019 London house prices fell 1.2 per cent month-on-month in November, official data revealed today. Homes in the capital also experienced the greatest annual fall as they dove 0.7 per cent year on year in November, according to HM Land Registry figures. The drop left the average London home priced at £472,901. Read more: Falling fuel [...]
UK CPI falls close to a two-year low on lower fuel and air travel prices January 16, 2019 The UK's Consumer Price Index was 2.1 per cent in December, falling to a 22-month low driven by falls in petrol prices and a year-on-year drop in air fares. Falling fuel prices contributed a 0.14 percentage points drop in the 12-month rate, as the price of petrol in December last year was the lowest since [...]
If any brand has the power to take on toxic masculinity, it’s Gillette January 16, 2019 As I write this, Gillette’s latest advertisement – We Believe: The Best Men Can Be – is kicking up a right old media storm. It’s fair to say that the campaign, which aims to address issues including bullying, violence, and sexual harassment, has provoked an extreme reaction. It’s been branded an “attack on masculinity” by [...]
City Pub Group toasts sales rise as it splashes out on new sites January 16, 2019 Pub owner City Pub Group today reported a rise in sales after strong Christmas trading and a spate of acquisitions. The pub chain saw a 1.6 per cent boost in like-for-like sales in the 52 weeks to the end of December, while turnover soared 22 per cent on the year before to £45.6m. Read more: Magic [...]
Icing off the cake: Finsbury Food drops as butter prices skyrocket January 16, 2019 AIM-listed cake maker Finsbury Food dropped sharply this morning despite growing like-for-like sales 0.5 per cent in the last six months. Shares in the Thorntons supplier fell nearly 12 per cent an hour after markets opened this morning, trading at 82p. Read more: Cake maker Finsbury Foods sees profits slip after bakery closure The drop came [...]
European car sales down for fourth straight month as emissions testing continues applying skids to market January 16, 2019 A fall in Chinese demand and tougher emissions testing continued to put the brakes on European car sales in December, which dropped for the fourth month in a row. New car registrations dropped 8.4 per cent last month, said the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (EAMA), following an eight per cent drop last month. Read more: Off [...]
Over-50s insurer Saga set to meet profit expectations after sales cruise forward January 16, 2019 Saga, the insurer and package holiday provider for the over-50s, reported overall profitability is in line with expectations today despite a “challenging” market. Forward sales for cruises have been strong, the company reported, with its ship the Spirit of Discovery, which will set sail in June this year, reaching 69 per cent of the sales [...]
Manx Telecom on track to hit targets as it launches hearing loss technology January 16, 2019 Isle of Man mobile and broadband provider Manx Telecom today said it is on track to meet its expectations for revenue growth in 2018. The telecoms firm said it delivered “good” revenue growth, driven by an improved performance in its mobile business. Underlying earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation are also in line with [...]
Consumer spending feels the pinch amid Brexit uncertainty January 16, 2019 Enduring political uncertainty was to blame for weak consumer spending over Christmas, according to figures released today. Consumer spending fell by one per cent in December compared to the same month in 2017, research from Visa and IHS Markit reveals, its biggest monthly drop since April. Read more: UK car sales decline for the second [...]
FTSE 250 engineering firm Diploma appoints new chief executive January 16, 2019 Specialist equipment and engineering firm Diploma has announced it has hired a new chief executive, Johnny Thomson, with shares dipping slightly as markets opened. The FTSE 250 company, which provides specialist products to the life sciences sector, said Thomson would take over the executive responsibilities from interim executive chairman John Nicholas on 25 February. Read [...]