Retailers ramp up pressure on Reeves to scrap tax break for e-commerce rivals Retail Retailers have urged Rachel Reeves to “revitalise the high street” by speeding up plans to close a tax break which they say unfairly favours Chinese e-commerce rivals. High street giants like Next, M&S and Primark have urged the Chancellor to impose a £2.60 flat fee on small parcels to rebalance a system which they say [...]
UK cement sector ‘at risk of cracking’ despite industrial strategy Economics Production in the UK cement sector is rapidly declining, according to industry leaders, despite government efforts to slash high electricity prices as part of its industrial strategy published on Monday. Prime Minister Keir Starmer appealed to thousands of manufacturers across the country with plans to reduce energy bills by 25 per cent from 2027 after [...]
Champagne Lanson sales fail to fizz as prices rise Retail Champagne Lanson suffered a sharp drop in its UK sales in 2024 as drinkers turned their backs on bars and restaurants amid the cost-of-living crisis. New accounts filed with Companies House show the brand’s turnover was slashed from £45.2m to £35.5m last year while its pre-tax profit also fell from £1.7m to £819,000. The champagne [...]
Economics 101: consumers always pay for tariffs April 2, 2025 If there’s one thing every economist agrees on, it’s that the only people who benefir from tariffs are cynical politicians, says Daniel Freeman Economists almost never agree on anything. Even if you ask a single economist their view on a subject they will generally give you at least three contradictory positions. This makes the overwhelming [...]
Axe the EU’s import tax to save consumers money February 25, 2025 More than five years on from Brexit we are still sticking to EU rules that see Brits paying over the odds for branded goods that manufacturers are happy to sell cheaper elsewhere, says Martin Howe KC This month we have seen rising inflation and the threat that the Bank of England will have to defer [...]
UK economy hit by slump in exports to EU February 13, 2025 According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), UK exports fell 2.5 per cent in the fourth quarter, the third consecutive month of decline.
Brexit, Trump tariffs and China set to weigh on UK trade January 13, 2025 UK trade will only grow by 0.7 per cent annually between 2023 and 2033, according to new projections from Boston Consulting Group (BCG).
Why the UK should follow Trump’s lead on tariffs November 29, 2024 Reliance on Chinese imports is a significant threat to UK manufacturing, implementing our own US-style tariffs could boost growth and create jobs, says Emma Parkinson The re-election of Donald Trump marks a seismic shift in global trade dynamics, particularly for heavy industries like steel. As Trump’s administration gears up to potentially impose substantial tariffs on [...]
ABP: Port operator slips back into the red as economic uncertainty dents finances July 3, 2024 Associated British Ports (ABP) slumped back into the red after "ongoing uncertainty" in the global economy took a toll on its finances.