UK recession still on the cards after aggressive Bank of England interest rate hikes March 27, 2023 A recession is still on the cards in the UK despite the economy performing much better than experts predicted just a few months ago, new forecasts out today project. Higher interest rates and households responding to the cost of living crunch gripping their finances by trimming spending is tipped to push GDP 0.3 per cent [...]
UK household debt swells past £2 trillion for first time ever March 27, 2023 Family debt has swelled past £2 trillion for the first time ever in a sign Brits are whipping out their credit cards to fund spending amid the cost of living crunch, new research out today reveals. Household debt is now nearly the same size as the entire UK economy (£2.2 trillion) and has been pushed [...]
‘If all prices try to beat inflation we WILL get higher inflation’: Bailey pleads with firms to be considerate to low earners March 24, 2023 The Governor of the Bank of England has pleaded with companies to remember that inflation will drop sharply later this year when they are setting prices or risk hurting those on the lowest incomes. Andrew Bailey said that if companies set prices that help embed inflation in the economy it will not benefit anybody and [...]
Confidence in Bitcoin growing by the day March 24, 2023 Jason Deane eyes up all the week's action from the world of cryptocurrency, and discovers a sense of confidence in Bitcoin.
What will it take for business leaders to understand the true value of cybersecurity? March 24, 2023 Business decision makers (BDMs) and IT leaders have rarely seen eye to eye. Back in 2020, an analyst report revealed that 69% of execs perceived cybersecurity to be an entirely or mostly technology area. Yet this attitude is increasingly unsustainable in a world where businesses must fight for every last contract and every last staff [...]
FTSE 100 close: London index falls as investors react to mixed retail figures, JD Wetherspoon and Tui March 24, 2023 London’s FTSE 100 index closed 1.31 per cent lower today as investors failed to be enthused by data showing the UK’s economy is faring better than expected following the Bank of England’s (BoE’s) decision to hike interest for the eleventh time in a row. The capital’s premier index fell 1.05 per cent to 7,424.71 points [...]
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 [...]
‘Not optimistic’: Experts pour cold water on hopes Green Day will boost energy sector March 24, 2023 Energy experts have raised doubts over the UK's ability to compete with rival markets in the upcoming "Green Day" legislation.
Families grow increasingly confident about UK dodging recession March 24, 2023 Families are increasingly confident the UK will dodge a recession this year in another sign the economy is performing better than feared than at the turn of the year, a closely watched survey out today indicates. UK consumer confidence jumped in March for the second month in a row, albeit up to a historically low [...]
Rising food prices surprised the Bank of England, but supermarkets saw it coming March 24, 2023 An unexpected rise in inflation and the price of food shows us not to take it for granted.