Russia is overplaying its hand to try and force the West to give concessions February 22, 2022 AS world leaders plunge into an eleventh hour bid to talk Vladimir Putin down from the edge of a war with Ukraine, the fundamental misconceptions at the heart of Russia’s objectives in Ukraine must be dispelled in order to calibrate the right response. Russia wants a pro-Moscow administration in Ukraine without having to undertake a [...]
Government interest bill hits highest ever level for a January February 22, 2022 The government’s interest bill swelled to its level ever for a January since records began in the late 1990s as inflation burns a hole in the UK’s public finances. The amount the government spent on servicing its debt hit £6.1bn last month, up £4.5bn over the last year, according to the Office for National Statistics [...]
Public sector debt climbs to record £2.32 trillion: 94.9 per cent of Britain’s GDP February 22, 2022 Government borrowing hit a surplus of £2.9 billion in January, reversing a £2.5 billion deficit in the same month a year earlier, according to official figures published this morning. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said public sector borrowing from the end of March to December was £138.5 billion – the second highest since records [...]
Fuel surpasses last week’s record prices, reaching unprecedented 149p per litre February 21, 2022 Fuel prices have surpassed those of last week – which saw forecourts charge motorists 148p per litre – and reached record highs. According to RAC data, yesterday petrol prices reached 149.12p per litre while diesel was at 152.58p, meaning that it costs respectively £82 and £84 to fill a vehicle. “While the price of oil [...]
Homebuyers flood back to London amid return to office February 21, 2022 Movers are flocking back to London as the spectre of the Covid-19 crisis over the capital’s housing market fades away, reveals fresh figures published today. The scrapping of restrictions on daily life to curb infections and the return to the office is driving homebuyers to put London back at the top of their desired locations. [...]
Exclusive: Starmer to back away from 2019 Labour manifesto with series of key speeches February 18, 2022 Sir Keir Starmer will try to definitively distance himself from Labour’s far-left 2019 election manifesto in a series of key speeches over the next few months. This will begin next week when the Labour leader makes a speech outlining his stance on some “meaty” economic issues as he sets out “a totally distinct path from [...]
January retail sales boosted as cost of living crisis looms February 18, 2022 January retail sales volumes lifted 1.9 per cent last month while retailers prepare for consumers to limit spending as bills soar. According to the latest retail data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), sales volumes marked the largest monthly increase since April 2021 when non-essential retailing reopened. An increase came after a four per [...]
Slap up Valentines Day meals boosts UK diner volumes February 17, 2022 Couples treating themselves to a slap up Valentines Day meal boosted the volume of diners in the UK over the last week, revealed official figures released today. The number of restaurant goers in Britain surged 17 percentage points in just a week and is now nearly a third above its pre-pandemic level, according to the [...]
Entrenched supply crunch stoking inflation risks throttling global economy, IMF warns February 17, 2022 Supply chain breakdowns stoking inflation are inflicting “harm” on the global recovery from the Covid-19 crisis, the world’s economic watchdog warned today. Swelling costs fuelled by choking supply bottlenecks pose a serious risk to derailing the economic rebound by cutting households’ spending power, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned. Central banks launching a rapid [...]
Nearly half of Brits hunt for a new job as eyes fall on ‘inflation-busting’ pay rises February 17, 2022 Nearly half of all Brits have been hunting for a new job in the past three months, according to data City A.M. can share today. While around a third have mulled quitting their current position, research by Ipsos has revealed. The temptation to hand in a resignation letter is stronger among younger workers, aged between [...]