The US Federal Reserve’s favourite measure of inflation is at its highest for a year February 1, 2016 The US central bank's favourite measure of inflation held steady in December, according to figures released today. Prices, as measured by the personal consumption expenditures (PCE) index, dropped slightly in December, but were up 0.6 per cent year-on-year, the fastest rate for 12 months. The Bureau of Economic Analysis said that core PCE, which excludes food and energy, [...]
UK house prices: Mortgage lending rose unexpectedly in December February 1, 2016 The rush to sneak that house purchase in before interest rates rise continues apace: figures published by the Bank of England this morning showed mortgage lending jumped unexpectedly in December, beating analysts' expectations. Mortgage lending for house purchases rose to 70,837 in December, up from 70,424 in November. That was against analysts' expectations of a modest fall, [...]
Do plunging stocks predict global meltdown? Some believe a world recession is coming as oil prices are low, deflation creeps out of China and GDP growth flounders February 1, 2016 The dust has barely settled on the global financial crisis. The clean-up job is still ongoing, with interest rates at or just above emergency levels and tougher financial regulation being implemented. Yet some say there is a new crisis brewing. Equity markets around the world have plummeted this year, reflecting a catalogue of risks. There’s geopolitics [...]
UK house prices: London Help to Buy is a thing now – but experts warn it could inflate risks (and only help high earners in the first place) February 1, 2016 Callooh callay, London's own Help to Buy scheme has launched this morning, the government's scheme to give first-time buyers a lift onto the housing ladder. The new scheme effectively doubles the help being given out previously, as the government makes loans of up to 40 per cent available for first and second-time buyers on new [...]
Right to Rent: Landlord checks on immigration status criticised February 1, 2016 New rules rolled out across England today that require landlords to check the immigration status of tenants have come under fire. A survey from the Residential Landlord Association (RLA) this morning reveals 90 per cent of landlords have received no information from the government about the new Right to Rent scheme. Nearly three quarters of [...]
UK aerospace industry goes stratospheric February 1, 2016 The aerospace industry has increased in value by £3bn in 2015, with a new aircraft ordered on average every four hours and delivered every 6.5 hours globally, according to data from aerospace trade body ADS Group. Production of commercial aircraft in the country is up almost 50 per cent since 2009, as the government faces calls [...]
ICAEW: Weak business optimism is a bad sign for chancellor George Osborne February 1, 2016 Business confidence has dropped to a three-year low, signalling lower growth and posing a threat to chancellor George Osborne’s budget targets. The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales’ (ICAEW) confidence index dipped to a score of 11.4 for the start of 2016 – the lowest since early 2013. Lower economic growth can impact [...]
Late tax return? You have the right to appeal a penalty if you have a reasonable excuse, says industry body, as the deadline for self-assessment tax return draws nearer January 31, 2016 With just one hour to go until the deadline for self-assessment tax returns, an industry body has urged those who have a reasonable excuse for not hitting submit by midnight to appeal any late filing penalty they receive. The Low Incomes Tax Reform Group (LITRG) of the Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT) has today warned [...]
Private jet membership set to take off in 2016 January 31, 2016 Private jet usage is set to take off in London, following the roll out of membership schemes that allow people to make use of jets without owning them. A survey carried out by industry magazine Corporate Jet Investor found that nearly one in four (23 per cent) said that the growth of membership schemes and online [...]
Oil industry body pushing for tax cuts for the North Sea ahead of Budget in March January 31, 2016 An oil and gas industry body is ramping up its fight against taxes on the struggling North Sea oil industry ahead of the Treasury’s March Budget. Oil &Gas UK (OGUK) will petition the Treasury to ease taxes on the industry as the North Sea reels from 70 per cent drop in the oil price in [...]