Sharp increase in retail sales amid ‘subdued’ outlook due to inflation – but is there a ‘chink of light’ with Easter holidays? March 24, 2023 British retail sales grew sharply last month compared to pre-pandemic levels, but price increases continue to deliver a “subdued” longer-term outlook. Sales volumes are thought to have increased by 1.2 per cent in February after a rise of 0.9 per cent in January, suggesting the industry is recovering from the pandemic well. Industry figures are [...]
Cost of living crisis: Inflation sees Brits take a real-terms pay cut yet again March 14, 2023 British workers’ wages have been eroded by sky high inflation for the 15th month in a row despite them bagging bumper pay rises, official figures out today show. Real regular pay, which measures pay growth in cash terms minus inflation, fell on a monthly basis in January, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). [...]
Bryson DeChambeau relishes putting Dustin Johnson in the shade at opening LIV Golf League event in Mayakoba February 27, 2023 Bryson DeChambeau believes his Crushers can become the team to beat in the inaugural LIV Golf League season after Charles Howell helped them to win the first event. Howell topped the individual leaderboard in Mayakoba, Mexico, on Sunday after his final round of 63 left him on 16 under par, four ahead of overnight co-leader [...]
UK tech firm numbers double in two years – with London start-up growth lower than nearly all other regions February 22, 2023 The number of newly-created UK tech firms is up by a fifth, with London marginally below the national average. There were 46,474 new tech companies created in Britain in 2022, up from 38,240 in 2021. Based on data from Companies House, the uptick in registrations of new firms is almost double that of 2020, when [...]
Glimmers UK will avoid recession this year emerge as experts cheer return to growth in PMI February 21, 2023 Warnings that the UK is headed for a recession may have been misplaced after figures out today revealed private businesses returned to growth for the first time in half a year. S&P Global and the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply’s (CIPS) composite flash purchasing managers’ index (PMI) for February hit 53 points, up from [...]
UK economy stumbles behind Euro peers as risk of recession gathers pace January 24, 2023 The UK economy is falling further behind its international rivals and experts, according to a closely watched survey. The survey by economists has revealed Britain’s services industry, which generates about £2 in every £3 in the country, is shrinking at the fastest pace in two years. S&P Global and the Chartered Institute of Procurement and [...]
Year Ahead: Squeeze on household incomes to intensify as tough recession will dominate 2023 January 3, 2023 2023 is expected to be an exceptionally tough year for the UK economy. The country is almost certainly already in a year-long recession, one that will probably prove to be deeper than that experienced in the early 1990s. The squeeze on household real incomes will intensify as rising interest rates join soaring inflation. Admittedly, the [...]
UK inflation scales to 41-year high, but analysts bet it has peaked at 11.1 per cent November 16, 2022 UK inflation has surged above the City and Bank of England’s expectations to reach a new 41 year high, but experts said it may now have peaked, official figures revealed today. Prices rose 11.1 per cent over the last year, pushing the rate a whole percentage point higher from September, according to the Office for [...]
Workers’ real pay erodes at historic pace despite huge wage rises November 15, 2022 Workers’ pay is still being eroded at a historic pace by rampant inflation despite employers hiking wages by one of the greatest amounts since records began, official figures revealed today. When taking off the Office for National Statistics’ (ONS) preferred measure of inflation, pay excluding bonuses dropped 2.7 per cent over the last three months, [...]
Almost half of firms given loans by British Business Bank would have gone under in pandemic November 11, 2022 Nearly half of the companies supported by a state-owned fund would have gone bust in the pandemic without its support, a new report has found. The British Business Bank’s £1.14bn support to 1,190 firms helped 48 per cent stave off going bust during uncertainty of coronavirus. The evaluation from the BBB said more than 60 [...]