IFS: No room for tax cuts or spending rises at March budget despite Jeremy Hunt pocketing £60bn windfall February 28, 2023 There is no room for tax cuts or spending increases at the 15 March budget despite Jeremy Hunt being handed an around £60bn windfall from lower energy prices and interest rates, a top economic think tank has forecast today. The Chancellor will be held back from handing households and businesses a tax giveaway due to [...]
Primark owner Associated British Foods ‘dodging most economic bullets’ as outlook improves February 27, 2023 Primark owner Associated British Foods has upped its outlook for the full year after reporting a jump in sales at the budget fashion chain as consumer spending held up better than expected. The group said sales at the retailer, which has 419 stores, are set to rise by 16 per cent at actual exchange rates [...]
Meatless Farm wants to drive down prices to win cash-strapped customers February 27, 2023 Morten Toft Bech, the Dutch founder of plant-based company Meatless Farm, launched his company in an effort to save the planet. “Animal protein is unsustainable,” claims Bech, comparing it to driving an old car full of polluting fuel. The public has been made aware of this argument for years, with numerous documentaries warning about how [...]
London to power UK economy away from recession and clinch best growth across the country February 27, 2023 London will power the UK economy out of recession and is poised to be the fastest growing area in the country over the coming years, new forecasts out today reveal. The capital’s economy is on track to expand 2.6 per cent each year between 2024 and 2026, pushing it to the top of the countrywide [...]
Recession fears chill UK investment as CBI urges Jeremy Hunt to rethink tax grab at March budget February 27, 2023 British businesses are poised to mothball investment due to uncertainty over whether the country is on course to tip into a recession and a looming tax grab, a new survey out today indicates. Fears of a slowdown in spending caused by families’ finances being squeezed by the cost of living crisis has knocked optimism among [...]
Week ahead: Bank of England speak to dominate agenda as investors look for clues on interest rate path February 26, 2023 Investors will be parsing over a string of speeches from top Bank of England rate setters this week for clues on whether the central bank is close to ending its aggressive campaign to tame inflation. Ben Broadbent, a deputy governor at the Bank, kicks off a busy week of central banker speech at Threadneedle Street’s [...]
Retailers demand scrapping of ‘£2bn’ waste strategy policy amid fears it will increase consumer costs February 24, 2023 The UK’s largest retailers are urging the government to scrap its waste strategy policy, or risk forcing prices up for consumers who are already facing a cost of living crisis. A draft letter obtained by Sky News, which it is understood will be sent to government officials next week, outlines industry concerns about the costs [...]
UK edges further away from recession as families’ economy and inflation outlook brightens February 24, 2023 Another brighter than expected set of economic numbers out today indicate the UK has a chance of avoiding a much-tipped recession this year. Consumer confidence climbed faster than forecast to minus 38 points this month, up seven points from minus 45 points in January, according to research firm Growth for Knowledge’s index which has been [...]
Hargreaves Lansdown chief on spats with the founder, his time at the top and the power of retail investors February 23, 2023 At times of turbulence, retail investors are entirely rational creatures. At least, that’s the view of Chris Hill, the outgoing boss of Britain’s largest retail investment and savings platform, Hargreaves Lansdown. Hill – who has been at the helm of the retail giant since 2016 and is preparing to step down in November – was [...]
Drax: Biomass energy giant which received £6bn from taxpayer reports 84 per cent earnings hike February 23, 2023 Power generation firm Drax is the latest winner from the energy price crisis, with its earnings up 84 per cent in the last 12 months to £731m. Drax, which received £6bn in green energy subsidies from British taxpayers over the last four-decades, was the latest energy giant to announce bumper profits; recent announcements include Shell [...]