The power of summer: Primark sales inch above pre-pandemic levels June 20, 2022 The owner of Primark has put recovering sales down to the power of summer, tourism and the march back to the office. Associate British Foods (ABF), which owns sugar ad agriculture businesses alongside the budget retailer, said sales over the past six months were four per cent higher than pre-pandemic levels, though they remain around [...]
British manufacturers beg Treasury for more support to weather ‘the immediate storm’ June 20, 2022 British manufacturers have called on the Treasury to offer more support amid a poor economic outlook to help “weather the immediate storm”. Make UK, trade body for manufacturers, and consultancy BDO found that costs are continuing to rise and output opportunities have been stifled. A survey revealed that two thirds of companies (67.8 per cent) [...]
Manufacturing sector to miss net zero targets without Government backing for new technologies June 20, 2022 A leading industry think tank has called on the Government to set up a new fund targeting emission reductions in the manufacturing sector/
House price growth slows with real estate sector warning of affordability crunch for buyers June 20, 2022 The pace of house price growth slowed in May, with potential buyers’ tightening budgets set to slow growth further in the months ahead. According to today’s Rightmove’s house price index, buyer demand for available properties was down eight per cent last month, versus April. Even so, the price of property smashed another record, for the [...]
IoD: Voluntary director code of conduct will help prevent future Carillions June 20, 2022 Directors of companies should follow a code of conduct to prevent Carillion-like scandals from happening again, according to the representative body for business leaders. Some 78 per cent of directors agree a set of rules should be created to boost corporate compliance, the Institute of Directors (IoD) said in a policy paper published today called [...]
BNPL firms welcome UK government plans to regulate the sector June 20, 2022 Buy-now pay-later (BNPL) firms today welcomed the UK government’s long-awaited plans to regulate the sector amid concerns that more people are turning to such services as the cost of living rises. Under plans announced today, the government said that BNPL firms – which provide shoppers with short-term interest-free credit to delay paying for goods – [...]
Indignant brokers fiercely dismiss Martin Lewis’ notion many mortgages are ‘a ticking time bomb’ June 19, 2022 The well-known personal finance guru Martin Lewis recently warned that mortgages are a “ticking time bomb” for homeowners, as he said Brits should lock in cheap mortgage rates soon before monthly payments become unaffordable. Lewis’ comments come as the cost of living for most Brits is climbing fast, with energy bills going up by an [...]
Money Spotlight: The reasons your real pay is dropping like never before June 19, 2022 Britons saw their basic pay fall at the fastest pace on record in April due to soaring prices. More pain is in store for UK households as inflation is set to hit further eye-watering peaks later this year. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said yesterday that regular wages excluding bonuses plunged by 4.5 per [...]
BP rubbishes Rosneft claim it is set to ‘wait out’ Russia’s war in Ukraine June 19, 2022 OIL giant BP has rubbished claims by the boss of Russian energy firm Rosneft that it was second-guessing its decision to pull out of the country after the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine. Igor Sechin said BP still remained its largest private shareholder despite announcing its departure from a three-decade partnership with the Russian company. “All [...]
Energy body: Windfall tax starting to deter investment June 19, 2022 ENERGY industry bigwigs have warned the first signs of the windfall tax’s chilling effect on investment are starting to be felt after reports that the Norwegian state energy company is considering abandoning a £4.5bn North Sea oil project. The Sunday Telegraph reported this weekend that Equinor’s involvement in the Rosebank Field was now in question [...]