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). [...]
Budget: Hunt considering pension changes to encourage over 50s back to work March 14, 2023 The Chancellor is understood to be looking at increasing the pension lifetime allowance (LTA) in a move that is being interpreted as attempting to reverse the trend of early retirements. The PA news agency understands Jeremy Hunt is considering allowing workers to put more money into their pension pot before being taxed as part of [...]
Virgin Wines: Share price falls and major review announced after Christmas ‘challenges’ drink into profits March 14, 2023 Virgin Wines‘ share price tumbled this morning as the online wine bank reveals it is undertaking a full review after a shift in consumer confidence which knocked profits in the first quarter. Shares in the online wine retailer slumped 1.50 per cent when the market opened this morning as the group revealed its profits before [...]
Why does the Bank of England (secretly) want to sack you? To hose down the inflation fire March 14, 2023 Whisper it very, very softly, but the Bank of England (secretly) is trying to force you out of the job. That’s right. Governor Andrew Bailey wants to toss you to the wolves in the name of the fight against inflation. That’s overegging it. No one is directly trying to make someone else unemployed. A kernel [...]
Don’t be fooled, buy now pay later firms aren’t your BFF, they just want your money March 14, 2023 With millennial pink branding and cutesy messages, firms like Klarna want you to forget they are trying to push you into debt, writes Phoebe Arslanagic-Wakefield
The Grenfell fire destroyed a building but the local businesses have rebuilt March 14, 2023 Many businesses closed after the fire at Grenfell, others rebuilt right in the shadow of the tower, writes Elena Siniscalco
London: West End and Knightsbridge urge Hunt to relax Sunday trading laws to bring in £350m extra March 13, 2023 The West End and Knightsbridge have urged the chancellor to relax Sunday trading restrictions and help them rake in an estimated £350m a year. The duo have submitted a joint proposal to Jeremy Hunt ahead of this week’s budget, urging the government to relax Sunday trading laws within the popular London districts in an effort [...]
ISA season: Beat inflation with an IFISA March 13, 2023 With inflation still hovering around 10 per cent, savvy investors across the UK are searching for the most lucrative opportunities to protect their portfolios from eroding in real terms. As we head into ISA season, there is also the opportunity to enjoy tax-free earnings on your investments, giving consumers an additional boost during the cost-of-living [...]
TRG: Wagamama owner admits dining out will ‘never recover’ from Covid – but chains will not disappear from High Street March 13, 2023 The chief executive of Wagamama‘s owner The Restaurant Group (TRG) has claimed that dining out will never be as popular as it was pre-pandemic – but reassured chains will not disappear from the British high street altogether. “I don’t think the [casual dining] industry will never be quite as big as it was,” Andy Hornby, [...]
Spring budget: Back to work, childcare and post Brexit customs – what do we know so far? March 13, 2023 This Wednesday, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt will stand on the steps of No11 Downing Street – holding the famous Budget 2023 red box. Of his five predecessors, just Rishi Sunak was even in post long enough to reach this point. Political turmoil aside, his spring statement will also follow months of financial chaos, after economic shocks [...]