Author Archive: Brian Turner

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CBI: Decline in retail sales slows in October

CBI: Decline in retail sales slows in October

According to the latest Confederation of British Industry (CBI) distributive trades survey, the fall in retail sales slowed in October, but only a modest rise in volumes is expected next month. Consumers continue to be cautious about the economic outlook and rein in their spending on the back of rising unemployment, higher inflation and slow [...]

Euro zone leaders agree to deal

Euro zone leaders agree to deal

Following a tense summit in Brussels last night, it has been announced that euro zone leaders have reached a deal which they say will help resolve the growing debt crisis in the 17-member nation. The deal will see the euro zone’s main bailout fund expanded to €1 trillion, while banks will accept a loss of [...]

Policymaker says another recession is likely

Policymaker says another recession is likely

Bank of England policymaker Paul Fisher has today said Britain is likely to suffer another recession. His comments come just a few days after fellow Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) member, Martin Weale, warned that a contraction in the fourth quarter is possible. Returning to Mr Fisher, he was asked how likely a double dip recession [...]

US economic growth rises in Q3

US economic growth rises in Q3

The world’s largest economy expanded at its fastest pace in a year in the three months to the end of September, official figures revealed today. According to the Commerce Department, the US economy grew at an annualised rate of 2.5% in the third quarter of this year. The figure was in line with forecasts but [...]

CBI: Confidence among manufacturers slump

CBI: Confidence among manufacturers slump

According to the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), confidence among UK manufacturing firms has slumped as a result of the debt crisis in the euro zone, as well as a fall in expectations for future growth. The latest industrial trends survey by the employers’ group established that 30% more businesses were pessimistic about the future [...]

FTSE 100 falls as markets price in Greek debt default

FTSE 100 falls as markets price in Greek debt default

The FTSE 100 has fallen as much as 4.28% already in morning trading, as markets price in a Greek debt default. This comes after the failure of the US Federal reserve to implement any real strategy last night, while announcing serious financial headwinds that could potentially put the world’s largest economy into recession. While financial [...]

Study: consumers cutting corners with prices

Study: consumers cutting corners with prices

When consumers shop around for the cheapest insurance, they are in danger of cutting corners and ending up with a policy that will not properly cover them. That’s according to research from Incahoot.com, who say there is little point someone paying cheap for insurance that doesn’t do what it needs to. The study for Incahoot [...]

Incahoot says members save nearly £500

Incahoot says members save nearly £500

Members of group-buying website Incahoot.com can save nearly £500, according to latest figures from the company. The total amount saved on contracts for broadband, mobile phone, and energy bills, averages around £476 in total. The breakdown of savings is as follows: £280 on mobile phone contracts £111 on energy bills £85 on broadband A 2010 [...]

Incahoot offers energy deals as Ofgem forces price changes

Incahoot offers energy deals as Ofgem forces price changes

Group buying website, Incahoot.com is currently offering a £30 cashback offer on First Utility energy bills, with a free smart meter, which it says will help members cut the risk of a sudden shock fuel bill thanks to 100% accurate monthly billing. The offer comes at a time when heavy winter fuel bills will already [...]

Property prices, not mortgages, are the problem

Property prices, not mortgages, are the problem

The property market has become unbalanced, caused by excessive lending, and low interest rates. Both of which have allowed for a surge in property prices over the past decade as people were able to buy in excess of their means. The current state of the market, where First Time Buyers are excluded, is a symptom [...]

RAC provides winter driving tips

RAC provides winter driving tips

With Winter officially here, RAC have put together some answers and tips to the most common questions about maintaining your car and driving during the cold weather: Q. How can I keep my cars’ battery in good condition for the winter? It’s a good idea to purchase a good quality battery charger to keep it [...]

Students reminded of income tax allowance for Christmas work

Students reminded of income tax allowance for Christmas work

Students who work as Santa’s helpers, ice rink supervisors and shop gift wrappers are being reminded today that they may not have to pay tax on the income they receive over the festive season. With universities, colleges and schools set to break up for the Christmas holidays over the coming weeks, many students will be [...]

RAC sees motoring costs rise 6.3%

RAC sees motoring costs rise 6.3%

The average annual cost of owning and running a new car has jumped by 6.3% in the last 12 months, according to RAC’s annual Cost of Motoring (CoM) Index. The £346 increase, which is twice the rate of inflation, takes average costs up to £5,869 from £5,523 in 2009. This equates to £112.87 per week [...]

Consumer Focus Scotland responds to ‘shocking’ new fuel poverty figures

Consumer Focus Scotland responds to ‘shocking’ new fuel poverty figures

Consumer Focus Scotland is calling on both the Scottish and UK governments to take radical action now to deal with the huge increase in fuel poverty following official figures, released today, which show that over three-quarters of a million households in Scotland are unable to keep their homes warm. The consumer watchdog says the shocking [...]

Time to let the banks fail

Time to let the banks fail

If there’s one thing the financial crisis has made crystal clear now, it’s that it’s time to let the banks fail. There’s no longer any reason why the banking sector, which clearly dragged us into the biggest financial crisis for a century, should therefore be subsidised by the taxpayer in order to simply continue it’s [...]

Making the unemployed work: nothing new here

Making the unemployed work: nothing new here

Current suggestions in the media are that in this week’s overhaul of benefits, the long-term unemployed will be made to perform some form of manual labour. Already objectors are rising up to protest: the Archbishop of Canterbury has already thrown his critical oar in. However, let’s be clear, this is not a new concept - [...]

Housing Benefit cuts: a sensible solution

Housing Benefit cuts: a sensible solution

The recent furore of cuts to Housing Benefit is politically expedient, but I doubt many of the people clamouring against the cuts have ever seen the reality of the system. The truth is that landlords have been shafting councils for Housing Benefit for decades. And because the public sector has been forced to put so [...]

Older women charged more for car insurance

Older women charged more for car insurance

As a woman gets older she can expect her car insurance premiums to rise significantly faster than single men. That’s according to a study by Which?, who used a price comparison site for car insurance to explore differences in pricing for men and women of different ages. Which? found that once a woman reached 60 [...]

RAC fears rural roads to be hit in spending review

RAC fears rural roads to be hit in spending review

A straw poll of 20 UK councils by RAC indicates that roads in rural areas have been hardest hit by last winter’s severe weather, with councils still struggling to deal with the backlog of repairs ahead of this winter. Many councils are also worried by the implications for the road network of this week’s Comprehensive [...]

Banks need $4 trillion over 2 years

Banks need $4 trillion over 2 years

A report by the IMF has revealed the startling prospect that US and European banks need to refinance around $4 trillion (about £2.75 trillion) in debt over 2011 and 2012. The IMF also reiterated its claim that European banks were still hiding losses off their balncing sheets, having written down only around a quarter of [...]