Retail sales shoot up in sunniest spring on record Retail Retail sales rose at their fastest rate for more than a year after warm weather drove Brits to bring forward summer purchases. Total retail sales in the UK increased by seven per cent year on year in April after declining of four per cent in the same month last year, according to new figures from [...]
UK financial services can still drive growth in a volatile world Opinion Geopolitical turmoil is threatening the resilience of UK financial services, but we don't need to sacrifice growth to protect them, writes KPMG's Karim Haji.
Rachel Reeves has promised UK fintech the world – now she must deliver Fintech Judgement day looms for Rachel Reeves, and UK fintech will be handing her the verdict. In a keynote speech at Innovate Finance’s 11th global summit, the Chancellor confirmed the Treasury’s inaugural Financial Services Growth and Competitiveness Strategy would be published on 15 July. Reeves has lauded the industry’s growth and touted the achievements of fintech [...]
Exclusive: KMPG renews search for UK’s top tech scale-ups April 24, 2025 Professional services giant KMPG has launched its annual competition to identify and support the UK’s most innovative scale-ups, as the sector navigates a challenging investment landscape. Now in its 12th year, the competition has served as a launchpad for a diverse range of startups – from healthtech pioneers to AI disruptors. Previous finalists include notable [...]
Finance bosses bet on London amid US market jitters April 21, 2025 Financial services leaders have banked on London’s growth potential, according to a fresh survey from KPMG, as sentiment sours over the prospects for US financial markets. Over half of the UK’s finance bosses believed the negativity of London’s health as a financial hub was overplayed. KPMG’s latest UK Financial Services Sentiment Survey, which quizzes over [...]
ECB cuts interest rates as Trump’s tariffs bring ‘exceptional uncertainty’ April 17, 2025 The European Central Bank (ECB) cut interest rates by a quarter point in what was the first decision from a major central bank since President Donald Trump announced sweeping tariffs in a historic speech earlier this month. The all-out global trade war, which has seen the likes of China retaliate with heavy tariffs on the [...]
Big Four vs Watchdog: Giants rack up over £154m in fines April 16, 2025 The accountancy regulator has handed over £154m in fines to the Big Four firms over the last five years for audit failures
Layoffs creating bigger pool of jobseekers, recruiters say April 11, 2025 More people were added to the large pool of jobseekers in March than at any point since the pandemic, according to recruiters, as high levels of redundancies are driving a “steeper rise” in staff availability. Employers have come under greater strain in the months since Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ announced a £25bn national insurance tax raid [...]
Exclusive: City firms matched with UK diplomats in growth push April 10, 2025 Top City firms including Big Four consultancies are hosting Foreign Office diplomats as part of the department’s efforts to become the “salesforce for UK plc”. More than 100 diplomats and representatives from professional services firms, including KPMG and EY, have been paired up in a bid to improve British business representation overseas. The scheme was [...]
UK mortgage approvals dip in February March 31, 2025 Mortgage approvals for house purchases decreased again in February as gains in consumer credit borrowing slowed down by £300m compared to January, the Bank of England said on Tuesday. House buying appeared to slow down as lenders approved around 65,500 mortgages in February, compared to some 66,100 in January. January saw a decrease of around [...]