Inflation drops but above 2pc for 30th month October 16, 2012 INFLATION dived in September, data revealed yesterday, bringing it closer to the Bank of England target is has exceeded for 30 consecutive months. Yearly inflation, as measured by the consumer prices index (CPI), slid to 2.2 per cent in September, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said, down from 2.5 per cent in August. Driving [...]
Npower and British Gas hike energy prices October 12, 2012 Energy companies npower and British Gas today announced price hikes for its customers, adding £112 and £80 a month respectively to the average customer’s annual dual fuel bill. British Gas this morning confirmed it is to hike gas and electricity prices by an average of six per cent from 16 November, equating to £1.50 a [...]
British Gas confirms price hikes October 12, 2012 British Gas this morning confirmed it is to hike gas and electricity prices by an average of six per cent, adding £80 to the average annual dual fuel bill. The increase, equating to £1.50 a week for customers, is blamed on rising wholesale prices. British Gas last raised prices in August 2011, and today’s increase, [...]
British Gas to hit customers with price hike October 11, 2012 BRITISH Gas is preparing to hike its gas and electricity prices by around eight per cent as early as today, leaving its variable tariff customers with an average of £100 extra on their bills. The group, which has around 12m residential customers in the UK, last increased its bills in August 2011, blaming rising costs. [...]
Rapid responses October 7, 2012 Dirty subsidies [Re: We just need the political will to reduce destructive energy prices, Friday] Matthew Sinclair’s long rant against climate change policies showed a remarkable ignorance of the economics of energy. As the energy regulator Ofgem has pointed out, the primary driver of electricity price rises over the past eight years has not been [...]
We just need the political will to reduce destructive energy prices October 4, 2012 OUT of all major economies, politicians in the UK have embraced aggressive climate policy in the most starry-eyed and expensive way. No other country has taken on more ambitious targets, done less to protect industry from the consequences or imposed more draconian unilateral regulations. We were the only country to set serious targets in the [...]
What the other papers say this morning September 23, 2012 FINANCIAL TIMES Banks to shed €20bn property loans Europe’s banks are on track to dispose of €20bn worth of loans backed by offices, shops and hotels this year as lenders across the continent race to reduce exposure to the volatile real estate sector ahead of tough regulatory changes. Banks including Lloyds Banking Group, Santander and [...]
Rapid responses September 23, 2012 Good regulation [Re: Regulator: I’ll shoot first, ask questions later, Wednesday] I am disappointed by your paper’s coverage of the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) likely new stance. Your coverage seems to confuse two quite different things: first, the expected new approach to dealing with any retail products that are likely to cause significant consumer detriment; [...]
Britain needs to embrace the global shale gas revolution September 21, 2012 BRITAIN is missing a trick. We are sitting on a massive amount of untapped energy, in the form of shale gas trapped deep in sedimentary rocks, and yet are failing to make use of this semi-secret treasure trove. To add insult to injury, politicians have imposed ever higher energy costs on the public thanks to [...]
Britain needs to embrace the global shale gas revolution September 20, 2012 BRITAIN is missing a trick. We are sitting on a massive amount of untapped energy, in the form of shale gas trapped deep in sedimentary rocks, and yet are failing to make use of this semi-secret treasure trove. To add insult to injury, politicians have imposed ever higher energy costs on the public thanks to [...]