Retailers prepare for ‘exceptionally tough’ golden quarter after Budget November 4, 2024 The golden quarter is off to a slow start and things are only set to get tougher for retailers over Christmas, according to fresh data. In-store sales grew by 1.7 per cent year on year in October, while total sales – both in-store and online – grew 4.1 per cent, according to BDO. Whilst the [...]
Top economists cast doubt on Reeves’ Budget growth pledge November 4, 2024 Top economists are split on whether last week's Budget will deliver a boost to the UK economy over the next five years, a City AM poll has revealed, as the Chancellor tries to calm markets.
Is your business about to feel the Ozempic squeeze? November 4, 2024 Reshaping stomachs with weightloss drugs like Ozempic likely means reshaping some markets (and probably your strategy), says Paul Armstrong Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro are driving a subtle but undeniable shift in obesity rates across the U.S, showing a 2 per cent drop so far. While it’s too soon to crown these drugs the cure-all, their [...]
Bank of England set to lower interest rates as Budget dampens bets for 2025 November 3, 2024 The Bank of England is expected to lower interest rates this week, while markets are betting on fewer cuts next year after forecasts suggested the new government's first Budget will push up inflation.
Don’t be fooled – Britain’s entrepreneurs are here to stay November 2, 2024 The run-up to this week’s highly-anticipated Budget was filled to the brim with an overwhelming amount of uncertainty. But what's really next for Britain's entrepreneurs?
Chancellor Rachel Reeves delivered Labour’s first Budget in 14 years, announcing £40bn of tax rises, Central London Alliance comments November 1, 2024 Given the straitened public finances it is understandable to leave no stone unturned when looking to balance the books, and we welcome the much-needed investment in the public services. But business owners, the ones creating jobs, are paying this bill. The likely outcome; job losses. Business owners are the lifeblood of the economy, driving growth [...]
Secure Trust Bank slashes profit expectations amid motor finance ruling November 1, 2024 Secure Trust Bank has slashed profit expectations for this year due to the performance of its motor finance business. In a trading update today, the London-listed lender said that following the Financial Conduct Authority’s motor finance decision, it restored vehicle finance loan collections activity to normal levels. Meanwhile, early arrears in vehicle finance are at [...]
How will the Budget impact the prime housing market? November 1, 2024 The Budget was, by and large, a set of fiscal promises for people who rely on public services. So with that in mind, how might the Budget affect the prime housing market, a market exclusively for the UK’s wealthiest buyers? Prime houses are typically defined as the upper five per cent of houses in any [...]
Reeves playing ‘same silly games’ as her predecessors, IFS says October 31, 2024 The Chancellor Rachel Reeves has been accused of playing the “same silly games” as her predecessors after forecasting that public spending will tail off towards the end of this parliament following a short-term spike.
Reeves has chosen decline October 31, 2024 Labour have stuck to the line that they had “no choice” but to make “tough decisions”, but Rachel Reeves had an opportunity to put forward a Budget to kickstart economic growth, and she chose to do the opposite, says James Vitali “Politics is always a choice”, the Prime Minister said on Monday during a pre-Budget [...]