From strikes to Avanti West Coast: Here the top five things to look out for in rail next year December 28, 2022 Railway has taken centre stage in the UK public discourse as the tug of war between unions and train operators over the past six months has led to unthinkable misery to millions of people and businesses. Rail minister Huw Merriman said last month the walkouts had cost the UK economy £500m, while hospitality and retail [...]
Insulating our leaky homes now would be a sensible investment for this Conservative government to make December 26, 2022 As Rishi Sunak stood in Downing Street after becoming prime minister, he made a major promise. “The government I lead will not leave the next generation, your children and grandchildren, with a debt to settle that we were too weak to pay ourselves”, he said. That’s why the recent announcement from the Chancellor to make [...]
As cyber risk intensifies, insurers must offer a better market to companies in need of protection December 26, 2022 From rising inflation to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, this year has yet again demonstrated the domino effect that occurs following a crisis, and the impact this has on businesses. There are many lessons to be learned as we move into the new year. If we take the war in Ukraine, the geopolitical crisis triggered sanctions [...]
The Christmas Day Quiz: City A.M. tests out your grey matter December 24, 2022 It’s the Christmas Quiz you’ve been waiting for! Each year City A.M. publishes Deloitte’s economics team’s festive brainteasers, produced as part of their regular Monday briefing. Grab a pen – the answers are at the bottom, and come packed with plenty of extra details… 1. The nineteenth century Scottish historian and philosopher Thomas Carlyle dubbed [...]
Pubs closing down: Crisis for industry as more than one a day shuts doors December 24, 2022 More than 32 pubs disappeared from communities in England and Wales each month in 2022 as rocketing energy bills and staffing pressures forced businesses to shut for the final time. New analysis of official government data by real estate adviser Altus group found the overall number of pubs slid by 386 during the year. The [...]
2022: The year the UK economy soured December 23, 2022 Let’s not forget that inflation was already a problem heading into 2022. The final inflation reading of 2021 was for November and came in at 5.1 per cent, nearly three times higher than the Bank of England’s two per cent target and the highest level since September 2011, according to the Office for National Statistics [...]
Best London areas to live: From schools to roads and care, this is where council tax takes you the furthest December 21, 2022 As the cost of living crisis rages, energy bills are rising and inflation is biting harder than ever, the council tax rebate scheme was introduced to lift some burden off Brits’ shoulders. However, with it still a significant cost, where in London and across the UK are residents getting the most in return for their council tax? [...]
Government borrows record amount in November as debt bill swells December 21, 2022 Growing public sector expenditure in November prompted a £22.0 billion borrowing frenzy.
Government must outline support for businesses, urges leading energy supplier December 20, 2022 One of the UK’s leading energy suppliers has criticised the delay in outlining future support for businesses beyond next spring.
Shop ’till you drop: Christmas spending up despite rampant inflation December 20, 2022 Shopping habits die hard as Brits continue to spend across the board in the run-up to Christmas and the holiday season despite historic levels of inflation raising prices. Spending on essentials is up by an average of 43.5 per cent compared to the same time last year, with non-essential expenditure also rising by an average [...]