UK house prices slow to three-year low as cost of living crisis drags down London and South East property market February 7, 2023 In London, house prices fell from £541k to £530k iin January, with annual house price inflation flat at 0.0 per cent compared to 2.9 per cent in December.
House prices are poised to slide in 2023 but straight into the hands of the lucky few February 7, 2023 There’s a pretty wild variety of house price predictions doing the rounds. Capital Economics have forecast they could fall 12 per cent, while experts at property search site Zoopla are a bit more optimistic. The consensus seems to be somewhere around a six per cent fall in 2023. One thing is certain: house prices are [...]
Forget writing letters to stay at home mums, we need to rethink tax-free allowances February 7, 2023 Britain has a productivity and employment problem and the government, try as it might, can't get the over 50s or parents back to work. Changing tax-free allowances might be the ticket, writes Alex Petropoulos
Retail experts warn of ‘challenging’ months ahead as sales growth slows February 7, 2023 Senior retail figures have warned that the coming months will be “challenging” for the sector, after sales slowed over January, falling below the three-month average growth of 5.2 per cent to 4.2 per cent Helen Dickinson OBE, chief executive at British Retail Consortium (BRC), said consumer confidence remains “stubbornly low” and looming rises in household [...]
Nissan’s Sunderland plant could make Renault and Mitsubishi cars if factory is competitive, top exec says February 6, 2023 Nissan’s Sunderland plant could start producing Renault and Mitsubishi cars under the rebooted alliance between the Japanese and French car makers, but only if the factory is competitive, Nissan’s chief operating officer Ashwani Gupta said today. Gupta told journalists this afternoon that the move could happen depending on the factory’s competitiveness. “If Sunderland is competitive, [...]
FTSE 100: London falls from record high as retailers JD Sports, Next and Mike Ashley’s Frasers drag index down February 6, 2023 The FTSE 100 started the week lower on Monday, as retailers dragged the index lower. The capital’s premier index dropped 0.82 per cent to 7,836.71 points, while the domestically-focused mid-cap FTSE 250 index, which is more aligned with the health of the UK economy, closed at 20,409.38, down 0.89 per cent. The fall takes the [...]
Sadiq Khan warns rebel boroughs against challenging ULEZ expansion February 6, 2023 Sadiq Khan has warned a number of rebel boroughs against challenging the London-wide expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone, or ULEZ, saying their case was “wholly without merit and misconceived.” Four Conservative boroughs sent a pre-action letter to Transport for London (TfL) on 13 January, challenging Khan’s decision to expand the ULEZ to Greater [...]
Bank of England aggressive rate hikes send chill through UK construction economy February 6, 2023 The Bank of England’s ten successive interest rate rises have sent a chill through the UK’s construction economy, a closely watched survey out today shows. Potential home buyers are shunning purchases due to mortgage rates flying higher, prompting house builders to rein in spending. S&P Global and the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply’s (CIPS) [...]
Green energy: Subsidies need planning reform to stop firms being lured by US billions – Wartsila boss February 6, 2023 Subsidies for green energy will only lead to a ramp up of renewables if they are matched with planning reforms, warned Wartsila.
Bank of England will have to keep hiking rates to stop inflation hanging around, MPC’s Mann warns February 6, 2023 The Bank of England will have to hike interest rates again to stop the UK from being hit by a much stronger inflation surge than expected, one of its top rate setters has said today. Catherine Mann, an external member of the monetary policy committee (MPC) who has consistently backed steeper rate increases compared to [...]