According to the finance ministry, India’s economy expanded by 7.7% in the April to June period – much slower than the 8.8% growth in the same period a year earlier. It was the weakest growth in six quarters and was attributed to a slowdown in construction activity. Construction saw an increase of just 1.2% during [...]
Growth in the UK’s closely-watched service sector surged ahead in March, figures have revealed today. The Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS)/Markit purchasing managers’ index (PMI) rose to a 13-month high of 57.1 last month – from February’s reading of 52.6. Analysts had expected the index to remain broadly unchanged. The reading means the [...]
The Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS)/Markit construction purchasing managers’ index (PMI) has today revealed UK construction activity contracted unexpectedly in December. The Purchasing Managers’ Index slumped to 49.1 in December, from 51.8 in November – the first fall since February last year and surprised analysts. The latest figures mean the index is now [...]
Growth in the UK’s closely-watched service sector accelerated in October but the outlook is cautious as companies worry about the impact of spending cuts. The latest index from the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS)/Markit PMI climbed to 53.2 in October, from 52.8 in September, confounding expectations of a 52.5 reading. However, the index [...]
The Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply(CIPS)/Markit construction PMI index revealed activity slowed in October. The index fell from 53.8 in September to 51.6 last month – confounding expectations of a more modest fall to 53. However, the index remains above the crucial 50 level, which indicates expansion. The figures suggest, though, that construction will [...]
The Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply(CIPS)/Markit construction PMI index for June remained at around the same pace as May. The index dipped to 58.4 in June from 58.5 in May – albeit this still represented the highest level since September 2007. Furthermore, the index is still above the crucial 50 level, which indicates the [...]
The key services sector slowed in January as a result of bad weather and the VAT rise, according to analysts. The latest activity index from the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS)/Markit PMI showed a reading of 54.5 in January from the 56.8 in December – however, any reading above 50 indicates growth. The [...]
Figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) have revealed that the UK economy grew 0.2% in the second quarter of the year, which is the lowest quarter-on-quarter growth since the third quarter of 2005. It grew 1.6% compared with the same quarter a year ago – also the weakest growth for three years, and [...]
M&S Money launches 3% cash ISA
M&S Money has launched an Advantage Cash ISA paying 3 per cent, and which allows transfers in from other ISAs. It can be opened with a minimum deposit of £100 lump sum followed by minimum monthly deposits of £25. The 3% rate is variable, but there is no short-term bonus so the return won’t plummet [...]
Google suspends UK Compare Mortgages site
Google has closed its UK mortgage comparison site which it launched in July last year, after it proved to be less popular than expected. Mortgage comparison sites are designed to allow visitors to compare mortgages quickly and easily without having to visit each lender’s individual site. Google was competing with several well-established comparison sites, including [...]
AA launches ‘black-box’ policy for young drivers
The AA is launching an innovative car insurance policy called Drivesafe which could help younger drivers save up to £850 a year. Younger drivers already pay substantially higher premiums than other motorists and these costs are increasing. A new study by Confused.com suggests insurance costs for younger driver have gone up by 5.7 per cent [...]
ATOL scheme updated to protect online bookers
ATOL, a financial protection scheme managed by the Civil Aviation Authority, is being extended to protect up to six million more holidays a year. The scheme ensures that holiday makers do not lose out financially if a travel company collapses, and that they are not stranded abroad. An increase in the number of holidays booked [...]
Home repossessions lowest for four years
The number of UK homes repossessed fell to 36,200 in 2011, significantly below the Council of Mortgage Lenders’ forecast of 40,000, and lower than 2010 when 37,100 homes were repossessed. With interest rates remaining low and lenders adopting a sympathetic attitude to customers in financial difficulty, repossessions fell to their lowest level since 2007. However, [...]
Monthly pay lasting just 17 days
Workers are running out of money just 17 days after receiving their monthly pay, according to new research by the Halifax bank. This means that the average UK worker spends half the month worrying about money. The study, based on the responses of more than 2,000 adults, found that 10 per cent of workers start [...]
Women disadvantaged by auto-enrolment changes
Government proposals to increase the auto-enrolment threshold to £10,000 could put 1.8 million women at risk of missing out on a pension, the TUC has warned. Under the auto-enrolment scheme, which will be phased in from October, private sector employers will automatically enrol workers between the age of 22 years and the state pension age, [...]
Emergency household repairs company Homeserve is taking longer than expected to get back on track after its operations were suspended last October. The company expected customer numbers to fall by 5% this year but it has increased this estimate to 8% and announced the loss of 200 jobs. It estimates that renewal revenue in 2013 [...]
Sale rumoured for Yorkshire and Clydesdale banks
There is growing speculation that National Australia Bank (NAB) may sell Yorkshire Bank and Clydesdale Bank after the Australian parent company announced a strategic review of the two banks’ operations. The Australian economy is performing well and NAB reported strong profits for the final quarter of 2011 but with the UK economy at a virtual [...]
More women experiencing debt difficulties
Women in Debt, which offers female-focused debt advice, has warned that the number of UK women facing serious debt has grown significantly over recent years. The organisation believes that more women will need advice on solving debt problems in the future because they are building up an unsustainable level of indebtedness. Women in Debt’s director, [...]
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