‘Acute’ staff shortages and rising energy bills force most businesses to hike their prices November 12, 2021 Amid ‘acute’ staff shortages and the rising cost of fuel and energy, most businesses are increasing their prices. A survey of 1,000 firms showed that four out of five increased the price of their goods or services in the past year. The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) said its study indicated that nine out of [...]
Investors must buckle up as inflation-triggered volatility is set to shake markets, warns City insider November 10, 2021 Investors must avoid complacency and buckle up as inflation-triggered volatility is set to shake markets until the end of 2021, an asset management veteran warns today. The warning from Nigel Green, chief executive and founder of deVere Group, a large asset management and fintech firm, comes as Chinese stocks plummeted to almost their lowest level in [...]
‘Cheap money’ fuels crypto rush as Bitcoin bounces near record $66k high amid inflation fears November 8, 2021 Bitcoin jumped by more than 7 per cent over the last 24 hours, heading above $66,300. ’Bitcoin is bouncing higher again, close to all-time highs fuelled by expectations that the era of cheap money looks set to hang around for longer, while inflation is expected to keep ticking up,” Susannah Streeter, senior investment and markets [...]
Forget the pandemic: Brexit’s impact on UK economy will be much worse, warns fiscal chief October 28, 2021 The consequences of the UK leaving the European Union will be much more serious than the economic impact of the pandemic, the boss of the UK’s fiscal watchdog warns this morning. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) had assumed leaving the EU would “reduce our long run gross domestic product by around 4 per cent”, [...]
Used car prices skyrocket as UK inflation eases October 20, 2021 The UK average price of a used car has increased by 23.9 per cent this week as a result of September’s inflation rates easing to 3.1 per cent. Data from automotive advertising firm Auto Trader have also revealed that year-on-year prices quadrupled this week, especially if compared with the 5.7 growth recorded in the week [...]
Bank of England will ‘have to act’ to curb inflation October 17, 2021 Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey has signaled that the Bank of England is gearing up to increase interest rates. The central bank is considering raising interest rates for the first time since the onset of the coronavirus crisis due to increasing inflation risks. He believes the surge in energy prices raises the risk of [...]
Today: UK unemployment set to fall as rate hike bets increase October 12, 2021 European markets got off to a mixed start yesterday, while US markets, after initially looking in good shape, rolled over into the close to finish on the lows of the day. While investors want to believe the narrative that stock markets can continue to move higher, this belief is bumping up against the reality of how [...]
Looming cost of living crisis pinches Brits’ confidence in finances October 12, 2021 The spectre of inflation is acutely impacing Brits’ confidence in the health of their finances. Nine in 10 households are worried about their finances, found research by Barclaycard. Brits across the country are facing a severe cost of living crisis caused by soaring energy prices, wider inflation and looming tax hikes, which is weighing down [...]
Concerns grow over impact of energy prices and supply chain issues on profit margins October 11, 2021 Even though European markets closed lower on Friday, they still managed to finish the week higher, as did US markets, after what was a rather disappointing US jobs report, as martkets look forward to a week that sees US earnings season get underway in earnest, and where guidance is likely to be just as important [...]
Consumer confidence slips to pre-Covid levels as shoppers see supplies squeezed October 10, 2021 Consumer confidence has dipped to its lowest level this year, as inflation, the energy crisis and HGV driver shortages take their toll on the outlook to Christmas, according to a new report by PwC. Following record highs earlier in the year, consumer confidence saw a decline in almost every age, region and demographic category, and [...]