According to the latest Confederation of British Industry (CBI) distributive trades survey, retailers are concerned about consumers tightening their purse strings amid rising inflation. The CBI’s survey established that the sales balance fell to +6 this month from +37 in January – far below expectations of a +30 reading. Furthermore, retailers expect sales growth to [...]
The John Lewis Partnership, which is regarded as a barometer of British retailing, today reported a further fall in weekly sales. The renowned employee-owned chain said department store sales grew 1.4% to £49.8 million in the week to 12 February – it represented the fourth consecutive week of slow sales following the VAT hike on [...]
The latest survey from the Nationwide Building Society has revealed a fall in UK consumer confidence for the month of January after rising in December. The building society’s consumer confidence index plunged to 47 in January from 54 the previous month – just 6 points above the record low of 41 and way below its [...]
According to some economists, there is a very small chance that the Bank of England could raise interest rates today. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) commenced its two-day meeting yesterday and earlier this week, City bank JP Morgan said there was a 40% chance that rates will be lifted from their historic low of 0.5% [...]
Andrew Sentance, one of the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) members, has once again spoken of stubbornly high inflation. Mr Sentance has, at the last seven rate-setting meetings, voted for the base rate to be lifted, in order to combat high inflation. He is expected to have voted this month for rates to [...]
Leading business groups have warned that the recent hike in VAT from 17.5% to 20% will drive inflation up to around the 4% mark over the coming months. This would take inflation to double the Government’s target of 2%. Last month, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed Consumer Price Inflation (CPI) rose to an [...]
The rate of VAT will today rise from 17.5% to 20% as the Government looks to raise billions of pounds in order to trim the UK’s budget deficit. While many are prepared for the increase, retail sales are expected to be hit as consumers are expected to cut back on their spending over the coming [...]
According to experts, the forthcoming VAT hike will have resulted in the purchase of big-ticket items – boosting retail sales in December and the first few days of January. However, the VAT rise from 17.5% to 20%, which kicks in tomorrow, is expected to mean consumers will cut back on their spending over the coming [...]
A survey showed today consumer confidence remains at low levels with the GfK NOP December consumer confidence index unchanged at -21. While it was marginally better than the -22 expected by analysts, it is two points lower than this time last year. Meanwhile, the survey’s “climate for major purchases” index surged ahead by 10 points, [...]
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has today reported UK retail sales rose 0.3% in November – albeit slower than the revised 0.7% in October. However, the figure was in line with expectations and was driven by sales of toys, sporting accessories and jewellery. Demand for clothing, footwear and households goods remained weak The ONS [...]
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has today announced Consumer Price Inflation (CPI) rose to an annual rate of 3.3% in November, up from 3.2% in October. The latest figure represents the highest since May and inflation has now been above the target of 2% for a year. Meanwhile, toady’s figure surprised analysts who had [...]
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has revealed some optimism among retailers for the Christmas period. Many believe the Christmas period will be no worse than last year – despite consumers being fearful of the Government’s spending cuts and unemployment. According to the BRC’s snapshot of 17 major retailers, which represents up to 51% of the [...]
According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), UK retail sales grew in October for the first time in three months. The ONS said sales rose 0.5% in October on a monthly basis – beating analysts expectations of a 0.4% gain. Stripping out volatile fuel prices, retail sales grew 0.3% in the month. However, on [...]
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has today announced Consumer Price Inflation (CPI) rose to an annual rate of 3.2% in October, up from 3.1% in September. The latest figure represents the eleventh consecutive month that inflation has been above the target of 2% and will prompt the Governor of the Bank of England, Mervyn [...]
BDO, the accountancy firm, has today provided an optimistic report about the prospects for the UK High Street. Spending cuts and tax hikes has led many experts to suggest that consumers will rein in their spending, having a severe impact on retailers. However, BDO suggests that sales will grow by 3% over Christmas as shoppers [...]
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has today announced Consumer Price Inflation (CPI) held steady at the annual rate of 3.1% in August. The latest figure represents the ninth consecutive month that inflation has been above the Bank of England’s target of 2%. However, analysts had expected CPI to dip slightly to 2.9%. Inflation remained [...]
A survey of 2,000 households, conducted by market researchers Markit and YouGov, has revealed confidence has been knocked and households are under pressure financially. The reason for the fall in confidence comes as households are fearful of losing their jobs as the coalition Government embarks on massive spending cuts and tax hikes. Approximately 600,000 public [...]
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has today revealed public sector borrowing totalled £3.8 billion in July. Not only was the figure was much less than the £5.25 billion expected by analysts, it is also well below the £6.1 billion borrowed in July 2009. The improved picture was attributed to exceptionally strong growth in receipts [...]
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) is scheduled to announce the UK inflation rate this morning, with analysts expecting the annual rate to be around 3.1% – representing the eighth consecutive month that it has been above the Bank of England’s target of 2%. Last month, the ONS reported Consumer Price Inflation (CPI) eased to [...]
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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