UK economy: Has the Budget broken the jobs market? January 21, 2025 Unemployment rose to 4.4 per cent in the three months to November, up from 4.3 per cent previously and the highest since last May.
KPMG: Regulator probes Big Four firm over audit of Ladbrokes-owner Entain January 20, 2025 The accountancy watchdog has kicked off an investigation into Big Four firm KPMG over its audit of gambling giant Entain
Fewer firms expanded headcount following the Budget, BCC says January 14, 2025 Fewer firms increased their headcount in the final quarter of last year, a new survey showed, as businesses prepare for the impact of the national insurance hike.
UK consumer confidence may struggle to ‘ride out’ uncertainty January 13, 2025 Consumer confidence ended 2024 on a high, but analysts have warned that it might not be able to ride out a wave of economic uncertainty this year. Confidence was at its highest since April 2021 in December, according to Yougov’s and CBRE’s monthly consumer confidence survey. Business activity, optimism about the future, and perceptions of [...]
Hiring falls to 16-month low after Reeves’ ‘tough Budget’, survey shows January 9, 2025 Temporary billings also declined last month, and at a faster pace than typically seen during 2024.
Retail gloom as festive season fails to save 2024 trading January 7, 2025 High street stores showed anaemic growth in the 2024 festive season, despite hopes that Christmas trading would inject some cheer into the sector. Sales grew just 0.3 per cent overall in the ‘golden quarter’, which includes Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Christmas, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC). Online sales continued to beat in-store, [...]
UK firms shed jobs at fastest rate in three years amid payroll hikes January 6, 2025 Weak demand and higher payroll costs have led to the steepest decline in service sector jobs since January 2021, according to a new survey. Nearly a quarter of survey respondents reported a fall in workforce levels, while 12 per cent signalled a rise, data from the S&P Global UK Services PMI showed. “Service providers widely [...]
UK economy to stage ‘welcome recovery’ thanks to consumer rebound January 6, 2025 The firm forecast that GDP will increase by 1.7 per cent over 2025, double the 0.8 per cent expansion anticipated for 2024.
KPMG: UK households plan to splash the cash in 2025 December 31, 2024 The positive picture from households contrasted with a more gloomy view about the state of the economy more broadly.
Finance bosses optimistic about Labour plans to cut red tape December 30, 2024 A KPMG survey found seven in 10 financial services bosses think the policies will help attract foreign investment into the sector.