Sunak needs to stop fighting over tax and spend and overhaul the system February 2, 2023 The calls for tax cuts are ceaseless, even in the face of evidence they won’t help us to growth, Rishi Sunak needs to stop arguing over whether or not we can afford them, and start stripping back taxation as a whole, writes Will Cooling
Christmas sales were a moment of reprieve as high streets play whac-a-mole February 2, 2023 Even the biggest retailers were severely dented by the pandemic, strikes, inflation and rising energy costs. It might be a game of whac-a-mole, but the high street is ready for another year, writes Richard Curry.
Federal Reserve hikes rates 25 basis points in sign Powell is nearing end of inflation fight February 1, 2023 The US Federal Reserve has climbed down to the lowest interest rate hike in nearly a year in a sign the world’s most influential central bank is nearing the end of its aggressive campaign to tame a historic inflation surge. Fed chair Jerome Powell and the rest of the federal open market committee (FOMC) backed [...]
London restaurants: Outlook ‘bleak’ as insolvencies mount across the industry February 1, 2023 London restaurateurs have described the outlook for the sector as ‘bleak’ after research has revealed that the number of hospitality businesses going bust has jumped by 65 per cent in the last year. The figures, which were released by accountancy firm Price Bailey, show that 1,880 British restaurant businesses became insolvent in 2022, compared to [...]
H&M axes four UK stores outside London as retailer warned it needs to ‘raise its game’ to differentiate from rival fashion chains February 1, 2023 H&M has announced plans to shutter four of its stores across the UK due to a “rapid change” in customer behaviour. None of the fashion retailers’ London sites have been impacted by the move, however stores in Hartlepool, Maidenhead, Newport in Isle of Wight and Burton are set to close. A spokesperson for H&M UK [...]
FCA must increase staff pay or it risks failing the public, Unite says February 1, 2023 The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) needs to offer its staff a better pay package or it risks becoming unable to deliver in the public interest, union Unite said. The FCA, which regulates the conduct of around 50,000 financial services businesses, has been in dispute with its workers over pay and conditions. It said it told [...]
German inflation bungle takes shine off euro figures as ECB remains committed to aggressive rate hikes February 1, 2023 Inflation in the eurozone fell again last month but experts have warned the drop will not convince the European Central Bank (ECB) to stop hiking interest rates aggressively. The rate of price increases among the group of 19 countries using the euro dropped to 8.5 per cent annually, down from 9.2 per cent, according to [...]
Vodafone shares fall after European revenues hit by price pressures February 1, 2023 Shares in Vodafone today fell almost two per cent after the telecoms firm said its European revenues dropped over the previous year as price pressures have hit its business. Analysts warned the slide in Vodafone’s revenues comes as company chief executive Margherita Della Valle’s first test as head of the telecoms company after she took [...]
Food inflation soars to highest level on record February 1, 2023 Food inflation has reached its highest level on record, with the sector predicting no stall in price increases throughout the year. Figures published in the British Retail Consortium’s (BRC) shop price index show food inflation rose to 13.8 per cent in January, up from 13.3 per cent in December. This rise has pushed it above [...]
Strikes happening TODAY: Hundreds of thousands of school and rail workers walk out as students and commuters left stranded February 1, 2023 Hundreds of thousands of workers – including school teachers – are going on strike for what will be the biggest day of industrial action in more than a decade. Teachers in England and Wales, who are members of the National Education Union (NEU), will embark on their first day of strikes on Wednesday, which threaten to disrupt more [...]