The average price of leasing popular cars surges eight per cent in two months thanks to post-Brexit vote inflation January 9, 2017 While the process of Britain leaving the European Union hasn't yet started, the wheels are already in motion for a rise in the cost of cars to consumers. The monthly cost of leasing a basket of some of the more popular car models has risen by an average of eight per cent, from £245.70 to £264.70, [...]
As the CES tech show closes in Las Vegas, what will be the most exciting consumer development in 2017? January 9, 2017 Alex Wood, founder and editor of The Memo, says Amazon's Alexa. Amazon’s Alexa is about to take over the world, in a good way. The home of the future is filled with internet-connected devices but, until now, no one has figured out how we’ll manage all these bleeping and blooping smart machines. In Las Vegas [...]
Donald Trump threatens Toyota with high tax tariff in tweet January 6, 2017 President-elect Donald Trump has hit out at Japanese car manufacturer Toyota, saying that if the firm builds a car factory in Mexico, it will be forced to pay a hefty tax. In a tweet – Trump's preferred method of political communication – the President-elect demanded Toyota build a car factory in the U.S. Toyota Motor said [...]
Here’s our pick of 2017’s best upcoming films January 5, 2017 Blade Runner 2049 Dir. Denis Villeneuve, out late 2017 Set thirty years after the events of Ridley Scott’s seminal science-fiction classic, Blade Runner 2049 stars Ryan Gosling as the wet-behind-the-ears replicant hunter tasked with tracking down a missing Rick Deckard, played by the unknowable force of nature that keeps Harrison Ford’s seemingly immortal body in [...]
Amazon’s Alexa totally infiltrated CES this year January 5, 2017 Amid gimmicky gadgets that may never make it to the shelves (smart whistle, anyone?) Amazon's Alexa artificial intelligence voice assistant has stealthily become the stand out winner of the Consumer Electronics Show. The technology which first appeared in Amazon's own smart home speaker Echo and Echo Dot made surprise appearances almost everywhere, from fridges and cars to robots and baby monitors. [...]
They’ve only Donald done it: Ford bins $1.6bn Mexican factory in favour of smaller US investment January 3, 2017 Ford has binned plans to build a $1.6bn (£1.3bn) car plant in Mexico, choosing a $700m investment in Michigan instead. Chief exec Mark Fields defended the u-turn, saying far from pandering to President-elect Donald Trump's protectionist desires the decision was a "vote of confidence" in the pro-business environment the entrepreneur is creating. "We didn't cut a deal with [...]
British car manufacturing speeds ahead to highest level since 1999 December 22, 2016 The number of cars manufactured in Britain accelerated to its highest level this century in November, according to data from official body the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Car production zoomed ahead by 12.8 per cent to 169,247 last month, in the highest output since 1999. In the first 11 months of this year 1.6m [...]
UK businesses now owe £1.8bn in late corporation tax – an increase of 15 per cent since 2015 December 19, 2016 More businesses are struggling to pay their tax bills, as the amount of overdue corporation tax owed to the taxman continues to rise. According to Funding Options, an online aggregator for small business finance, the total value of corporation tax payments in arrears has risen 15 per cent in the past year, from £1.59bn to [...]
As Trump packs his cabinet with leading executives, are business people any good at politics? December 15, 2016 Sam Bowman, executive director of the Adam Smith Institute, says Yes. Well, it’d be hard to do worse than the politicians. And Trump’s appointments make some sense. Exxon’s Rex Tillerson, in particular, is experienced at negotiating with the leaders of tinpot kleptocracies – a useful skill in a secretary of state. Mitt Romney’s business success [...]
Anthony Watson interview: Bath and England star on why he’s not letting himself think about the British Lions tour to New Zealand just yet December 13, 2016 Bath star Anthony Watson insists he has put thoughts of travelling to New Zealand with the British and Irish Lions next year to the back of his mind following three months out injured. The winger has been consigned to the opposite side of the touchline he is so used to hugging for England and Bath, [...]