The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has today revised its growth prospects for the UK economy. The lobby group is now forecasting growth of just 1.1% this year, down from its 1.3% forecast in June and much lower than the 1.9% it estimated at the start of the year. Meanwhile, it is expecting growth of [...]
Official figures have revealed a rise in consumer spending in the US for the month of July – boosted by an increase in car sales. According to the Commerce Department, sales rose by 0.8% in July compared with the previous month – the largest rise in five months and much better than the 0.5% gain [...]
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has revealed the UK economy grew by 0.2% in the April to June period – unchanged from a previous estimate published last month. A third and final estimate will be available next month. However, growth for the second quarter slowed from the 0.5% growth posted in the first quarter. [...]
According to the Land Registry, house prices rose by 1.3% in July compared with June, putting the average cost of a home at £163,049 in England and Wales. On an annual basis, the Registry said prices are 2.1% lower. It must be noted that the Land Registry compiles its data from completed transactions and therefore [...]
Official figures today revealed New Zealand’s economy surged in the January to March period despite the devastating earthquake which hit Christchurch, the country’s second largest city, on 22 February. The economy grew by 0.8% in the three month period – the fastest pace for over a year, according to Statistics New Zealand. The figure was [...]
The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has today elected to keep UK interest rates on hold at the historically low level of 0.5%, as widely expected. Interest rates have now been at this low level since March 2009 – when the economy was in the midst of recession. Recent figures show the economy [...]
The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) commenced its two-day rate-setting meeting yesterday and interest rates are expected to remain on hold at the record low of 0.5% – where they have been since March 2009. The bank is presented with a dilemma as it comes under pressure to raise interest rates to combat [...]
A 24-hour strike is underway in the UK as public sector workers protest against pension reforms. The Public and Commercial Services (PCS), which is Britain’s largest civil service union, as well as three teaching unions, are protesting against changes to their pensions. The industrial action will result in Britain’s worst strike for decades and will [...]
According to Sir Mervyn King, the Governor of the Bank of England, a surge in home repossessions is unlikely as UK interest rates are set to remain low. Repossessions have fallen over recent times and many experts have previously argued that homeowners have been saved from repossession because of historically low interest rates, which has [...]
The Commerce Department has today reported consumer spending in the US was flat in May. This was the first month since September 2009 that there was no growth, surprising analysts who had expected a 0.1% rise. Consumer spending is closely monitored as it accounts for approximately 70% of total economic output. However, many analysts said [...]
Figures today revealed Australia’s unemployment rate held steady at 4.9% in May. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the economy created just 7,800 jobs last month – far worse than the 25,000 analysts had forecast. However, the number was offset by a rise of 29,800 in part-time employment, which helped maintain the jobless rate. [...]
The Australian economy, dubbed the “wonder from down under”, contracted in the first quarter after flood and cyclone disasters led to a fall in coal and agricultural exports. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the economy contracted by 1.2% in the January to March period – the largest quarterly contraction since 1991 – the [...]
The Statistics Bureau has today revealed Japan has overcome deflation for the first time in 25 months after consumer prices rose by 0.6% last month – in line with forecasts. A short period of deflation (where prices fall rather than increase) is a serious threat to an economy because it deters consumers and businesses from [...]
Comet owner Kesa Electricals has announced plans to shut almost a dozen stores and axe 150 staff after sales fell amid the challenging economic environment. Kesa said same-store sales at Comet dived by 15.2% in the 12 weeks to 30 April as the High Street continues to suffer as consumers rein in their spending amid [...]
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has today revealed the UK economy grew by just 0.5% in the January to March period. However, the figure was in line with expectations and follows the shock contraction of 0.5% in the final three months of 2010 – which was attributed to bad weather. The poor first quarter [...]
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) will today publish economic growth figures for the January to March period. The figures are much awaited by analysts after the economy suffered a shock contraction in the last three months of 2010 – attributed to bad weather at the end of the year. GDP is expected to expand [...]
South Korea, which is Asia’s fourth largest economy, has experienced growth of 4.2% in the first quarter on an annual basis, according to official data today. The economy grew by 1.4% in the January to March quarter from the previous three months – the fastest rate in nine months. The better than expected growth was [...]
Scotland’s economy shrank less than thought in the October to December period, official figures revealed today. GDP was revised upwards to a contraction of 0.4% rather than an earlier estimate of 0.5%. The contraction was attributed to the bad weather during the quarter which impacted on many businesses. On an annual basis, meanwhile, the economy [...]
Home Retail Group, owner of Argos and Homebase, has today reported a 9.5% fall in pre-tax profits as conditions on the High Street remain challenging. Profits fell to £265.2 million in the 12 months to 26 February compared with £293 million in the same period a year ago. Meanwhile, revenue was almost 3% lower on [...]
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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