UK pay settlement levels are stable, according to the latest analysis from employment research specialist, Incomes Data Services (IDS). The average settlement for the three months to the end of July stood at 2.5%, having remained constant since January, and with pay settlements in manufacturing continuing to lead the way, typically at 2.9%. In addition, [...]
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has today revealed UK unemployment rose in the three months to June. The ONS said unemployment rose by 38,000 in the three month period to 2.49 million. The latest figures take the unemployment rate from 7.7% to 7.9%. Economists had expected the rate to stay flat at 7.7% Meanwhile, [...]
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) today announced Consumer Price Inflation (CPI) rose to annual rate of 4.4% last month after easing to 4.2% in June. Analysts had expected the figure to rise slightly to 4.3%. Higher inflation continues to be led by rising food costs – which grew by 6.2% in July, while clothes [...]
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has today revealed the UK trade gap widened to £8.8 billion in June – the biggest deficit since December 2010 and higher than expectations of £8.1 billion. The figures come on the same day the ONS revealed UK factory output fell by 0.4% in June after rising by 1.8% [...]
Growth in the UK’s closely-watched service sector grew at the strongest pace in 4 months in July, figures have revealed today. The Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS)/Markit purchasing managers’ index (PMI) surged to 55.4 last month from June’s reading of 53.9. The rise was unexpected after analysts had expected the index to fall [...]
In its latest assessment of the UK economy, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has said growth will be around 1.5% this year. The Washington-based Fund warned that stubbornly high inflation continues to be a threat to the economy and is forecasting inflation to remain well above the 4% mark in 2011 before falling to 2% [...]
The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has today revised its growth prospects for the UK Economy. The employer’s group is now forecasting growth of 1.3% this year, down from its May forecast of 1.7%. Meanwhile, it is still expecting growth of 2.2% in 2012 – unchanged from its previous forecast. The CBI has also suggested [...]
A survey of 2,000 individuals, conducted between July 1 and 10, has revealed a fall in consumer confidence. According to the survey of consumer attitudes, carried out by GfK NOP Social Research, confidence dived by 5 points to -30 in July – edging closer to the -31 seen in April. The index was also worse [...]
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has today revealed UK public sector borrowing rose last month. According to the ONS, public sector net borrowing rose to £14 billion last month compared with £13.6 billion June 2010. The figure was higher than analysts’ expectations and was attributed to a fall in income tax receipts. The figure [...]
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has today revealed UK unemployment fell further in the three months to May. The ONS said unemployment fell by 26,000 in the three month period to 2.45 million. The latest figures means the unemployment rate remained flat at 7.7%. However, the number of Britons claiming jobseeker’s allowance (JSA) surged [...]
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) today announced Consumer Price Inflation (CPI) unexpected fell to annual rate of 4.2% last month from May’s 2½-year high of 4.5%. Analysts had expected the figure to remain at 4.5%. However, the figure remains more than double the target of 2% and has been above this level since December [...]
Spanish banking giant Santander has announced it will return all of its call centres to the UK from India after complaints from its customers. It will create 500 jobs as part of the process and it is the latest in a series of customer service focus initiatives from the bank. Santander has a major UK [...]
Growth in the UK’s closely-watched service sector rose slightly last month, figures have revealed today. The Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS)/Markit purchasing managers’ index (PMI) edged higher to 53.9 in June from May’s three-month low of 53.8. The result confounded analysts’ expectations of a fall to 53.5. The index continues to remain above [...]
The Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS)/Markit manufacturing purchasing managers’ index (PMI) has today revealed UK manufacturing grew at its slowest rate in almost two years in June. The closely-watched CIPS/Markit manufacturing PMI dived to a 21-month low of 51.3 last month from May’s reading of 52. June’s reading was slightly lower than the [...]
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 [...]
Figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) have today revealed output in the UK’s closely-watched service sector dived in April. According to the ONS, service sector output contracted by 1.2% in April on a monthly basis – the biggest fall since January 2010 – when the country was hit by a severe snowfall. However, [...]
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has today revealed the UK economy grew by 0.5% in the January to March period – unchanged from the previous two estimates. In the meantime, annual growth was revised down to 1.6% from 1.8%. The growth, albeit slow, expanded primarily due to exports, with net trade contributing 1.4% points [...]
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has today revealed UK public sector borrowing fell slightly last month. According to the ONS, public sector borrowing fell to £15.15 billion last month compared with £16.46 billion in May last year. The figure was lower than analysts’ expectations of £15.75 billion and was attributed to an increase in [...]
Higher prices at the petrol pumps and economic uncertainty has led to a fall in UK retail sales for the month of May, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS) today. The ONS said retail sales dived 1.4% last month, reversing the strong rise seen in April due to the late bank holidays, good [...]
ITV gains 3.58 percent to lead gains on FTSE 100
European equities markets were lower to end the week on Friday, with trade hurt by a report from the US Commerce Department which showed that the US economy grew by 1 percent in the second quarter over the same period last year, less of an advance than expected, while the latest Thomson Reuters/ University of [...]
Retail outlook gloomy as sales fall
UK retail sales volumes fell in August, at the fastest pace for over a year, the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) reports. In a new quarterly survey, 46% of retailers said they had experienced falling sales in the two weeks to mid-August (compared with a year earlier) and the level of negativity registered over prospects [...]
Thaw in private sector pay rises
UK pay settlement levels are stable, according to the latest analysis from employment research specialist, Incomes Data Services (IDS). The average settlement for the three months to the end of July stood at 2.5%, having remained constant since January, and with pay settlements in manufacturing continuing to lead the way, typically at 2.9%. In addition, [...]
Premier Oil drops 9.71 percent on equipment concerns
European equities markets were lower Thursday on the possibility that regulators will impose new restrictions on equities markets as a deadline approaches in France, Spain and Italy for a decision on whether or not to extend bans on short-selling which expire over the next two days. The FTSE 100 was down 1.44 percent to 5,131.1 [...]
Co-op hit by falling food sales
Co-operative Group has reported a fall in first-half underlying profit to £230.8 million, down from £262.3 million a year earlier. The mutual has been hit by declining food sales in the face of strong competition, reduced government funding for prescriptions and a change in the income recognition policy on the sale of its funeral bonds. [...]
Consumer confidence slipped by two points in July, according to Nationwide’s index, returning to a level seen in the post-Christmas gloom of January. At 49 points, the lender’s main confidence index remains well below its long-run average of 79, and the building society is not expecting a substantial improvement during the remainder of this year. [...]
Customer complaints down at Barclays
Barclays has improved its customer service, with new complaints down 9% in the first half of 2011, compared with the previous six-month period, to 251,563. However, in the general insurance and protection category, volumes increased 25% to 73,692 with payment protection insurance (PPI) complaints leading the surge. The bank expects PPI volumes to be even [...]
Steve Jobs steps down at Apple
Steve Jobs has stepped down as chief executive of technology giant, Apple, to be replaced by Tim Cook, previously the group’s chief operating officer. In his resignation letter, Mr Jobs, who has been on medical leave following a diagnosis of cancer, said: “I have always said if there ever came a day when I could [...]
Brits to pay tax on money hidden in Swiss bank accounts
UK residents holding cash and investments with Swiss banks are to be taxed by Swiss authorities, with the money then handed over to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). A deal has been agreed between governments whereby account holders can retain their anonymity but will be forced to make their contribution to the Treasury. HMRC expects [...]
Man Group adds 10 percent on HSBC upgrade
European equities markets were higher Wednesday after the US Commerce Department reported that orders for durable goods, those products meant to last for three years or more, were up by 4 percent in the US in July, more than expected after having dropped in June. The FTSE 100 was up 1.49 percent to 5,205.85 in [...]
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