Gas prices could be separated from renewables in market shake up to lower energy bills July 18, 2022 Gas prices could be separated from the costs of electricity produced by renewables, radically reducing the UK's exposure to volatile gas markets.
Week ahead: More inflation woe to pile pressure on Bank of England to act July 17, 2022 Inflation bumped higher last month, reinforcing pressure on the Bank of England to motor through rate hikes, according to City analysts. London’s premier FTSE 100 index notched a poor performance last week, losing a shade over 0.5 per cent to finish at 7,159.01 points. The domestically-focused mid-cap FTSE 250 index, which is more aligned with [...]
Calls grow to pause benefits sanctions until merciless cost-of-living crisis has calmed down July 14, 2022 Benefits sanctions should be paused by the UK government until the cost-of-living crisis has been resolved, Citizens Advice Scotland has said. Advice from the charity on sanctions to Universal Credit rose by 5 per cent in 2021-22, research published today indicated. With inflation rising and impacting on the cost of goods, Citizens Advice said a [...]
Terrible Thursday for Barratt as energy prices and inflation take their toll on Britain’s biggest housebuilder July 14, 2022 Barratt Developments revealed this a.m. the company is facing a rise in build costs of up to 10 per cent as soaring energy prices and inflation take their toll. Britain’s biggest housebuilder said build cost increases have escalated to between 9 per cent and 10 per cent, up from around 6 per cent over the [...]
Brits to receive first cost of living payments from government starting today July 14, 2022 Eight million Brits will begin receiving payments to help with the cost of living crisis on Thursday.. Direct payments will be automatically made into recipients’ bank, building society or credit union account, for low-income households on means-tested benefits. The first payment, referred to as the DWP Cost of Living payment, will consist of £326 and [...]
SMEs put the buzz into business July 14, 2022 Micro-firms are the worker bees of the economy. They provide the thousand-and-one services that keep business going, contribute to the community, and help us keep our daily lives on track. They are the one-man bands; the partnerships, and the family businesses. They’re the people in the kiosk at the station serving your coffee in the [...]
‘Stop Sunak’: Downing Street denies running smear campaign despite fierce attacks from Boris Johnson allies July 13, 2022 Downing Street this afternoon denied running an anti-Rishi Sunak smear campaign as Boris Johnson’s allies singled out the former chancellor for criticism in an increasingly bitter leadership contest. The caretaker Prime Minister’s press secretary insisted on Wednesday that Johnson is “staying neutral” despite his remaining loyalists throwing their support behind Liz Truss. Sunak, who currently [...]
Ofgem demands suppliers refund customers overcharged on direct debits July 13, 2022 Ofgem has demanded six domestic energy supplies take action over customers' direct debits, including refunding overcharged energy users.
US inflation surge ‘nails on’ another Fed rate hike bazooka July 13, 2022 Prices are rising at the fastest pace in nearly 41 years in America, nailing on another huge rate rise by the US Federal Reserve larter this month. US inflation climbed to 9.1 per cent last month, smashing Wall Street’s expectations and up from an already historic level of 8.6 per cent, according to data published [...]
Economic green shoots to coax Bank of England into steepest rate rise since independence July 13, 2022 Signs of green shoots in the UK economy will encourage the Bank of England to launch the steepest interest rate hike since it was made independent 25 years ago. Stronger than expected growth in May suggests the economy can absorb higher interest rates without falling into recession, known as a “soft-landing,” according to City analysts. [...]