UK CPI creeps up during January lockdown February 17, 2021 The UK’s Consumer Prices Index was 0.7 per cent in January, the Office for National Statistics said on Wednesday. Rising prices for food, transport and household goods helped to drive the increase. January’s figure was up slightly from December’s reading of 0.6 per cent despite a return to national lockdown restrictions. Inflation remains a long [...]
Budget airlines primed for land grab as flag carriers face change of flight path February 17, 2021 After nearly a year of intense disruption, one could be forgiven for expecting even Ryanair’s perennially bullish boss Michael O’Leary to be a little downcast about the state of his industry. But despite the near daily cries of anguish issuing from the airlines sector, the Irishman’s eyes are fixed firmly on the future. Speaking after [...]
Mass Covid testing blitz to be launched as lockdown is lifted February 17, 2021 The government is reportedly planning to launch a mass Covid testing blitz in England as lockdown is lifted. NHS Test and Trace is preparing to send out more than 400,000 rapid lateral flow tests by post each day in a bid to get the country back to normal. The campaign – provisionally titled “Are you [...]
‘Beanz on bix for breakfast’ boosts brand scores for Weetabix and Heinz February 17, 2021 Last week, an "unholy union" of Weetabix and Heinz - featuring "beanz on bix for breakfast" - prompted popular outcry on social media.
Rishi Sunak urged to charge-up green investments in UK’s Covid recovery February 17, 2021 From the net zero transition to air pollution and electric vehicles, Chancellor Rishi Sunak is being urged to ramp up green investment as part of the Covid recovery. MPs on Parliament’s Environmental Audit Committee have set out guidelines for how Sunak can introduce more ambitious environmental measures. In the report, Conservative and Labour MPs criticise [...]
Illegal drugs worth £11m seized by Royal Marines in Arabian Sea February 17, 2021 The Royal Navy have seized more than 2.6 tonnes of illegal drugs in an operation lasting 10 hours. In total 2.4 tonnes of heroin, crystal methamphetamine and hashish were seized, adding to the 275 kilograms of heroin confiscated two days previously. All up, the haul had a street value of £11m. Sailors on board the [...]
The Great Frost of Covid-19 will pass – and Britain’s economy will heat up February 17, 2021 The Great Frost of 1709 has been in the news this week, quite possibly for the first time since 1709 itself. According to Bank of England estimates, this was the last time that GDP fell by more in a single year than it did in the Covid year we have just had. The Office for [...]
Greening the economic recovery is vital for the UK’s long-term prosperity February 17, 2021 The decisions we make in the coming weeks and months on how the UK economy recovers from covid-19 will shape our economy for decades. It is crucial that we start to phase-out carbon intensive industries and lock-in clean, green innovation. The Covid-19 pandemic has brought into sharp focus what happens when humans disrupt natural systems [...]
More than a third of UK small businesses pushing to trade overseas in 2021 February 16, 2021 More than a third of UK small businesses are likely to trade overseas this year, according to a YouGov survey. Lawbite surveyed 791 small businesses and found that 38 per cent are planning to trade overseas this year, which would equate to a market size of 2.28m firms. However, despite the effects of Brexit border [...]
UK companies ‘more distressed’ than European rivals, Moody’s finds February 16, 2021 UK has the highest number of distressed companies in Europe, according to data from Moody’s
