Don’t miss out: Social media is becoming a productivity tool April 25, 2012 FACEBOOK and Twitter long ago moved beyond social media sites and became vital channels for communication, as well a useful tool for businesses and enterprises. With generation Y weaving social media into every aspect of their lives, businesses that ignore this may cost themselves the talent they need to grow and succeed. If access to [...]
Surprise jump in inflation as food prices rise April 17, 2012 SOARING food and clothes prices pushed inflation up in March, official data showed yesterday, reversing the recent downward trend and raising fears that consumers will be squeezed for even longer than expected. Consumer prices rose 3.5 per cent in the year to March, up from 3.4 per cent in February and defying predictions of rapidly [...]
Households hit by rising cost of living March 18, 2012 HOUSEHOLD finances remain under intense pressure from rising living costs, according to several leading surveys released this morning. Despite a slowdown in the UK’s official measure of consumer price inflation in recent months, people still fear more price hikes. “Households’ current inflation observations climbed to a six-month peak [this month], while price expectations for the [...]
WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING February 9, 2012 FINANCIAL TIMES OSBORNE DROPS TARGETS FOR CREDIT EASING DEAL George Osborne has decided not to repeat the fixed lending targets agreed with five banks a year ago under the Project Merlin deal. Treasury officials are seeking to offer government guarantees on up to £20bn of bank funding, as long as the cost savings are passed [...]
A Victorian star which should shine Brighter January 5, 2012 IN MY brief visit to last October’s Conservative conference, while the Tory elite partied inside their secure zone, my wife and I found ourselves alone as we made the brief pilgrimage to a statue on Albert Square. The small huddle of protestors nearby weren’t paying the Victorian stone figure any attention either, nor were the [...]
BUY January 5, 2012 DIRECTOR, DOUGLAS & GORDON Q. Thinking prices would be going down last year I signed a one year rental. Values seem to be going up, should I buy or stay renting? A. It’s easy to stay in a rental if values are falling but if, like in London, they’re still going up, it’s difficult to [...]
With a glass and a half full of pride, Cadbury is looking to raise its game December 6, 2011 COUNTDOWN TO THE LONDON 2012 OLYMPIC GAMES 233 DAYS TO GO One of the nation’s favourite brands has new owners but it is still the official treat provider for 2012 Q. What was your brand’s primary reason for being involved with the Games? A. I was brought in after the decision had been taken, but [...]
S&P move would make EU stability history December 6, 2011 WITH member states coming to the grim realisation that if the Eurozone situation gets any worse they are going to be inflicted with Bob Geldof staging a charity concert for it, the S&P ratings agency drew that nightmare one step closer. I DON’T LIKE MONDAYS On Monday, the ratings agency put the bulk of the [...]
WHAT DOES THE CHANCELLOR’S BUDGET MEAN FOR YOU? November 29, 2011 PWC’S BUDGET TEAM SAYS: The restricted rises in tube fares will help Catherine’s travel costs and so too will the fuel duty increases being less than expected. The bank levy increase from 1 January 2012 may hit Catherine’s clients in the financial services sector although they will be buoyed by the chancellor George Osborne’s reluctance [...]
Osborne fury over plans for EU Tobin tax November 8, 2011 GEORGE Osborne yesterday slammed plans for a Europe-wide Tobin tax as a “big tax on pensioners”, even as the British government continues to support a global version of the levy. The chancellor told a stormy meeting of finance ministers in Brussels that a transaction tax applied only in Europe would cost the region 995,000 jobs. [...]