Germany on track for growth as confidence rises, says Ifo institute November 25, 2019 The German economy is set to grow by 0.2 per cent in the second quarter, the country’s Ifo economic institute has predicted, as executives became slightly more optimistic in November. However, it is too early to say the struggling German economy is turning around, with confidence falling in its important manufacturing sector, according to the [...]
Labour policies could cause run on sterling, says think tank Cebr November 25, 2019 A Labour government could cause a run on the pound due to market fears over the party’s stewardship of the economy, a leading economic think tank has said. Douglas McWilliams, director of the Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr), called Labour’s plans to raise £83bn a year through higher taxes by 2023-24 “improbable”. Read [...]
Retail sales improve in run up to Christmas November 25, 2019 UK retailers saw sales improve in the year to November after six months of decline as high street stores gear up for the crucial Christmas trading period. Retailers reported largely unchanged sales volumes this month, driven by strong grocery sales, and the industry expects growth to return in the year to December. Read more: Shoppers [...]
Tony Blair: Both UK parties are ‘peddling fantasies’ ahead of General Election November 25, 2019 Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn are both “peddling fantasies” ahead of the upcoming General Election, Tony Blair will say today. At an event in London, the former Prime Minister is set to criticise the country’s two main parties for offering a stark choice, aiming to win over voters “on the basis [...]
Johnson fights the socialists but Brexit still overshadows all November 25, 2019 Compared to Labour’s manifesto, which offered everything to everyone, yesterday’s Tory manifesto launch felt almost ascetic. Much of what was in the document had already been announced, and such surprises as were in evidence were not the type to change the direction of the election. The Conservatives will be eminently relaxed about this; some in [...]
Confidence tricks: How advertising can predict a recession November 25, 2019 “There’s going to be a recession,” someone says at a dinner table or boardroom meeting, certain of the fact. “You can see it coming.” In advertising, we’re at the coal-face of confidence — the barometer and engine room of recession and recovery. What we look for are three measures of confidence which correlate with historic [...]
Weakest UK tech sector growth since 2015 amid slowdown in demand November 25, 2019 The UK’s tech sector grew at the slowest rate in almost four years in the third quarter as a global economic slowdown and domestic political uncertainty dented the industry, new research shows. The tech sector was hit by a downturn in new work for the first time since 2012 during the three months to 30 [...]
Investment in London offices slows as demand outpaces supply November 25, 2019 Investment in London’s office market is falling despite growing demand from British and overseas investors, as a lack of available stock continues to hamper the sector. Total turnover for office investments in the capital in 2019 is set to drop well below the figure for the previous year, according to new data from Knight Frank, [...]
DUP’s Sammy Wilson warns Westminster that Northern Ireland will have its voice heard loud and clear in Brexit negotiations November 24, 2019 Boris Johnson may be going all-in to get a Conservative majority this election, but the jury is very much still out as to whether he will achieve his aim. Many in Westminster believe that despite the polling numbers, come the morning of 13 December the country will find itself saddled with yet another hung parliament. [...]
Conservative manifesto: How will Boris Johnson tax and spend? November 24, 2019 Prime Minister Boris Johnson has launched the Conservative manifesto with a pledge that he would increase spending by a fraction of Labour’s plans in a “sensible, moderate” approach to the economy. According to the Conservatives’ sums, the party would increase day-to-day spending by £2.9bn a year by 2023-24, compared to an £82.9bn increase under Labour. [...]