Retail: Employment figures slump to new lows with 150,000 jobs predicted to go by end of the year March 14, 2023 Retailers were cautious about hiring extra workers in the run up to Christmas, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) has claimed after ONS figures show that the number of roles were down 14,000 year on year in the last leg of 2022. “Low consumer confidence and falling sales volumes meant many retailers were more cautious in [...]
CMA probes Asda’s £611m Co-op petrol station takeover deal over fears it could hike fuel prices March 14, 2023 Asda’s £611m takeover over of 132 Co-op petrol stations has come under scrutiny from the UK’s competition watchdog over concerns the deal was likely to push up fuel prices. After the supermarket snapped up the sites last October the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) launched a Phase 1 investigation at the start of this year [...]
Bitcoin pushes past $24k as US financial system continues to navigate banking woes March 14, 2023 Bitcoin (+9%) posted a three-week high of $24,550 yesterday and is trading at $24,321 this morning, up more than 8% over seven days.
Pension explainer: The lifetime allowance and why it’s not just for wealthy savers March 14, 2023 Speculation is growing that the Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt is looking at increasing the pension lifetime allowance (LTA). The move is being interpreted as attempting to reverse the trend of early retirements and get more over 50s to consider re-joining the workforce. Mr Hunt is keen to bolster Britain’s workforce as he looks to deliver [...]
Cost of living crisis: Inflation sees Brits take a real-terms pay cut yet again March 14, 2023 British workers’ wages have been eroded by sky high inflation for the 15th month in a row despite them bagging bumper pay rises, official figures out today show. Real regular pay, which measures pay growth in cash terms minus inflation, fell on a monthly basis in January, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). [...]
Budget: Hunt considering pension changes to encourage over 50s back to work March 14, 2023 The Chancellor is understood to be looking at increasing the pension lifetime allowance (LTA) in a move that is being interpreted as attempting to reverse the trend of early retirements. The PA news agency understands Jeremy Hunt is considering allowing workers to put more money into their pension pot before being taxed as part of [...]
Be part of something Glorious this Summer March 14, 2023 | Sponsored The Qatar Goodwood Festival, which takes place from Tuesday 1 to Saturday 5 August, is one of the undisputed highlights of the British sporting calendar and social. The Racing As one of Britain’s oldest and most prestigious horseracing amphitheatres, the hallowed turf of Goodwood Racecourse hosted its first public race meeting in 1802. Today, 19 days of [...]
Calls to overhaul ‘antiquated’ trial rules grow as SFO forced to drop G4S case March 14, 2023 The UK’s Serious Fraud Office (SFO) on Friday said it would be dropping its case against three former G4S executives over claims they defrauded the UK government of tens of millions of pounds. The collapse of the SFO’s case came after G4S itself took responsibility for the fraud that saw it mislead Britain’s Ministry of Justice [...]
Vault Festival will end for good on Sunday unless landlords realise the value of culture March 14, 2023 Vault Festival, the UK’s second largest arts festival, is being forced out of its home by a landlord who fails to understand the value of culture, writes Richard Upton.
Utilita chief calls for ban on ‘archaic’ prepayment meters March 13, 2023 The government should scrap traditional prepayment meters and only allow suppliers to install smart options, says the Utilita boss.