Despite what we wish, there are no miracle economics Rishi can pull out of his hat March 30, 2022 The economic pressures now known as “the cost of living crisis” were at the core of the criticism of the spring statement last week. Those who once eulogised the Chancellor have now been selling their stocks of Sunak. While much of the commentary is unfair, politics is a trade in which the concept of fairness [...]
Shop price inflation hits highest rate in more than decade amid cost of living crunch March 30, 2022 Shop price annual inflation has hit the highest rate since September 2011 as Brits face a cost of living crunch. According to data from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and NielsenIQ, the metric hit 2.1 per cent in March. This was an increase from 1.8 per cent in February. Shoppers have flocked to discount retailers [...]
Solar panels: Is the market hotting up? March 29, 2022 Chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced VAT cuts for solar panels, but can the energy source the cost of living crisis ahead of next winter?
Shoppers turn to Aldi and Lidl as grocery price inflation exceeds 5 per cent March 29, 2022 Grocery price inflation has reached 5.2 per cent over the latest four weeks, as households brace for a cost of living crunch this spring. The rate of price hikes has hit the highest level since April 2012, according to Kantar’s index published on Tuesday morning. Shoppers are turning to discount retailers and own brand products [...]
Sunak says he is ‘prepared to act’ if energy bills soar again later this year March 28, 2022 Rishi Sunak has said he is “prepared to act” if energy prices continue to spiral out of control amid speculation he is ready to announce another multi-billion pound council tax rebate later this year. The chancellor told MPs on the Treasury Select Committee today that “It’s very difficult to sit here today and speculate on [...]
Sunak gives with one hand and takes with another to paint a positive veneer March 28, 2022 LAST week’s spring statement—the chancellor’s mini-budget, and a significant opportunity to lay out priorities and plans—was a big event for Rishi Sunak. While Covid cases persist and people are still dying, there is a broader feeling that the pandemic is now under control, and that the country can now think about moving into a post-virus [...]
Sunak eyes another council tax rebate after poor response to his spring statement March 28, 2022 Rishi Sunak is considering a further council tax rebate for Brits struggling with the cost of living crisis, after his spring economic statement was met by a very poor response on Wednesday. The chancellor is reportedly now looking into offering a further multi-billion pound package to help people with soaring energy bills and other household [...]
Sunak wants to be a low-tax Tory but instead he’s following the US and picking winners March 25, 2022 When Frank Sinatra first uttered the words “the best is yet to come”, the UK’s fiscal strategy probably couldn’t have been further from his mind. But the words ring true after a spring statement that did little to make life any easier for those of us who make a living trying to read the Chancellor’s [...]
The City View: More Spring Statement analysis, and The Macallan’s Master Whisky Maker distills her craft March 24, 2022 Today Andy Silvester chats to Economics and Markets reporter Jack Barnett — they look back on yesterday’s Spring Statement; go through dire IFS figures; and discuss lack of growth in the UK economy. Andy also takes us through the business news: P&O are in even more hot water; and the CEO of convenience store operator [...]
Rishi Sunak has shown his true colours by hiding stealth tax rises in the detail March 24, 2022 Don’t be fooled, Rishi Sunak is a fiscal conservative first, and a low-tax conservative second. This was a tax-cutting spring statement, but as the Office Budget Responsibility (OBR) pointed out, on balance Sunak has been a tax-hiking Chancellor. In fact, the net cut to personal taxes introduced at the Spring Statement offsets “just over a [...]