Shop price inflation hits highest rate in more than decade amid cost of living crunch March 30, 2022 Shop price annual inflation has hit the highest rate since September 2011 as Brits face a cost of living crunch. According to data from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and NielsenIQ, the metric hit 2.1 per cent in March. This was an increase from 1.8 per cent in February. Shoppers have flocked to discount retailers [...]
Students to ‘shoulder burden’ of public finances under loan reforms March 29, 2022 Students will be left shouldering the burden of Covid and Brexit under reforms to the loans repayment scheme, economic analysts have warned.
US Federal Reserve to move twice as quick at next meeting March 29, 2022 The world’s most influential central bank will hike interest rates by more than double the amount it usually does at its next meeting to send a strong signal that it is serious about taming red hot inflation. The US Federal Reserve will lift the world’s most important interest rate 50 basis points on 4 May, [...]
Recessionary threads begin to weave through present economic landscape March 29, 2022 This week, Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey warned this year’s energy shock will be bigger than any seen during the 1970s. The ripple effects on consumers from soaring energy bills has sparked a wave of economists to slash this year’s growth forecasts on concerns spending will be knocked by a steep fall in living [...]
Average mortgage hits £235k as cost of living crunch threatens home ownership plans for many March 29, 2022 The total value of mortgages lent rocketed last month as buyers face more affordability roadblocks to home ownership. Some 70,933 mortgages were given the green light in February, compared to 73,841 in January, according to the Bank of England’s monthly money and credit figures. However, the total value lent rose (from £16.6bn to £16.7bn), meaning [...]
Babcock to sell emergency aviation division as part of disposal programme March 29, 2022 UK Government contractor Babcock is reportedly in talks to sell its emergency aviation services as part of its disposal programme. The group is expected to sell the division to infrastructure investment manager Ancala Partners for around £100m, Sky News broke the news today. The UK Air Ambulance fleet is part of Babcock’s division but it [...]
Young, female, living in London: Who are the millions of people in the capital struggling to make ends meet? March 29, 2022 Five million working people now face the prospect of being unable to meet their financial commitments, according to new research shared with City A.M. this morning. from Baringa, the business consultancy. In the wake of the pandemic and with inflation at a 30 year high, specific groups of workers, such as women and young people, [...]
Brits splash on the plastic to uphold spending amid cost of living squeeze March 29, 2022 Brits are scrambling to take on debt to maintain spending amid one of the tightest cost of living crises in a generation, new figures released today reveal. Soaring prices and weak pay growth are making it tougher for households to maintain their existing lifestyles, strengthening incentives to use credit cards to plug budget gaps. Data [...]
Bus routes disrupted as drivers carry on with 48-hour strike against operator Arriva March 29, 2022 Around 30 London bus routes were disrupted in the last two days, as drivers continue to carry on with their 48-hour strike against bus operator Arriva London. The walkout was scheduled to last from yesterday until 3am tomorrow. Called on by the union Unite on Friday, the strike involves drivers based in depots around Croydon [...]
AIG lines up IPO for retirement division as it inks $150bn deal with BlackRock March 29, 2022 US insurance giant AIG is lining up an IPO for its life insurance and retirements business which is expected to fetch a valuation of more than $20bn.