‘A clear thumbs down’: UK business confidence slumped post-Budget November 22, 2024 The UK’s business optimism “slumped” in a downturn after the Autumn Budget, according to a closely watched survey of the private sector. S&P’s ‘flash’ purchasing managers’ index (PMI) came in at 49.9 in November, now below the neutral 50.0 threshold, down from 51.8 last month, and the lowest since October 2023. Firms reported a fractional [...]
Retail sales fall on Budget uncertainty before run-up to Christmas November 22, 2024 Retail sales fell by almost one per cent last month as cash-strapped Brits held back big ticket purchases amid a cloud of Budget uncertainty. The Office for National Statistics said this morning they dropped by 0.7 per cent in October, following a 0.1 per cent rise the previous month, which had been revised down from [...]
Post-Budget consumer confidence rises in golden quarter boost November 22, 2024 A leading confidence survey has found that consumer sentiment rose in November, which will come as a relief to businesses dependent on a good golden quarter to boost margins ahead of tax rises next year. All five measures of confidence rose, although major purchase intentions led the pack with a five-point jump. “There was evidence [...]
Inflation is a wake-up call: We need energy sovereignty now November 22, 2024 Energy costs are continuing to drive up inflation because we have a system that’s tied to geopolitical speculation rather than supply and demand. The answer is to generat eclean power on and around our own shores, says Joe McDonald Every business owner remembers that feeling of dread in the winter of 2022 as energy bills [...]
Homeowners face massive inheritance tax hike after Budget hit November 21, 2024 London homeowners are going to be hit with an eye-watering 1,840 per cent increase in inheritance tax (IHT) liability, as a direct result of Rachel Reeves’ Budget changes, it has been calculated. A single homeowner in the capital with an averaged priced home of £525,586, with the same amount in their pension, will have a [...]
Surge in government borrowing raises threat of more Reeves tax hikes, economists warn November 21, 2024 A sharp rise in government borrowing costs fuelled by pay rises for public sector workers and rising debt payments has raised the threat of future tax hikes, according to economists. Borrowing rose to £17.4bn last month, marking the second highest October figure since monthly records began, according to official figures. The Office for National Statistics [...]
Jet2 hikes dividend on record profit as holiday prices rise again November 21, 2024 Average package holiday prices grew six per cent to £904, with inflation leading to higher costs for consumers, Jet2 said.
Liontrust: Asset manager launches cost-saving spree as profit shrinks November 21, 2024 Liontrust’s profit continued to sink over the last six months, as the asset manager reported a 28 per cent drop in adjusted profit before tax. Despite a drop in adjusted profit before tax to £25.8m, the group pledged a share buyback programme of up to £5m over the next six months in its half-year results. [...]
Borrowing in October hits second-highest on record after inflation blow November 21, 2024 The government borrowed £1.6bn more in October than the previous year, making it the second-highest figure for the month in more than 30 years. The government’s borrowing – the difference between spending and income – hit £17.4bn in the last month, the Office for National Statistics said this morning. The body said the government’s current [...]
Ed Warner: Gold rush for athletes as sport venures into crazy territory November 21, 2024 Too much money chasing too few goods spells inflation. In the madcap pursuit of novel sporting ventures it is the athletes whose prices are swelling.