Energy watchdog Ofgem to review price cap quarterly ahead of ‘challenging winter’ August 4, 2022 Energy regulator Ofgem said this morning that the energy price cap will be reviewed quarterly, rather than every six months, as it warned that customers face a “very challenging winter ahead”. The regulator said the change would go “some way to provide the stability needed in the energy market”, adding: “It is not in anyone’s [...]
Glencore shareholders set for payday as profits jump to $18.9bn August 4, 2022 Mining and commodities giant Glencore announced it would put $4.5bn back in shareholders pockets today after it reported record half-yearly profits of $18.9bn on the back of soaring metal prices and market volatility.
Sunak launches fresh attack on Truss’s tax cut plans warning Brits will face higher mortgage payments August 4, 2022 Ahead of the Tory leadership hopefuls next debate in their quest to become prime minister, Rishi Sunak launched a fresh attack on Liz Truss’s plans for tax cuts. The former chancellor said his Foreign Secretary rival in the Tory leadership race would further drive up interest rates, raising mortgage payments, with her plans. His warning [...]
Battle for Number 10: From tax to NHS, here are all the promises Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak have made so far August 3, 2022 Yesterday, Liz Truss has this morning performed a screeching U-turn on a policy to pay regional public sector workers less than their London counterparts. it came after a severe backlash from Tory MPs and Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen. The embarrassing move comes as Truss and her rival Rishi Sunak continue to flesh out their [...]
Scorching inflation hits eurozone retail sales in sign of looming recession August 3, 2022 Surging inflation eroding Europeans’ living standards is squeezing spending in the bloc, reveal new figures published today. Retail sales dropped 1.2 per cent in the 19 countries that use the euro in June, down from a 0.4 per cent rise in May, Eurostat said. The drop, which was worse than analysts’ forecasts, means retail sales [...]
Sheepish consumers deal blow to UK services economy August 3, 2022 Consumers cutting spending in response to a historic inflation surge has weighed on growth in the UK’s services economy, reveals a closely watched survey published today. Brits are being squeezed by soaring living costs eroding their incomes, prompting them to cut unnecessary spending to protect their finances. As a result, growth in the services industry [...]
Threat of stagflation returns for first time since 1970s as UK enters early stage of drawn-out recession August 3, 2022 The UK is in the early stages of a drawn out recession that will tip millions of households into financial crisis, reveals fresh forecasts published today. An inflation surge driven by an unprecedented rise in energy bills will steer the economy into recession this quarter and keep it there until early months of next year, [...]
Bank of England to rip up history books at this week’s rate decision August 3, 2022 Soaring inflation will force the Bank of England to do something it has never done since it was made independent 25 years ago, City economists are betting. Governor Andrew Bailey and the rest of the monetary policy committee (MPC) will hike interest rates 50 basis points this Thursday. The move would also mark the sixth [...]
BP’s profits bonanza reignites windfall tax debate with energy bills set for painful spike this winter August 3, 2022 BP unveiled bumper profits powered by soaring oil and gas prices yesterday, as households brace for painfully high energy bills this winter.
City giant under fire: BP’s £6.9bn profit labelled ‘obscene’ as energy bills and living costs skyrocket August 2, 2022 After oil giant BP said this morning that it made almost £7bn in profit, the result has been labbeled as “obscene”. Earlier today the company announced underlying replacement cost profits – its preferred measure – jumped to a far better-than-expected $8.5bn (£6.9bn) for the three months to June 30. But the announcement has caused anger [...]