Latest Office for National Statistics (ONS) data has shown that inflation held at 3.8 per cent in the year to August. Core Inflation came in at 3.6% in the 12 months to August, down from the 3.8% in July and in line with forecasts. Commenting on today’s inflation figures for August, ONS Chief Economist Grant Fitzner…
Read moreLatest ONS data has shown that GDP showed no growth in July 2025, following growth of 0.4% in June Real GDP grew by 0.2% in the three months to July 2025 compared with the three months to April 2025, down from three-month-on-three-month growths of 0.3% in June 2025 and 0.6% in May 2025. Services output…
Read moreA fraudster has been jailed after illegally securing three Bounce Back Loans and using the funds to buy and ship goods to Ghana for resale. Eric Agyeman obtained £130,000 in three Bounce Back Loans for DOK Logistics UK Ltd when businesses were only entitled to a single loan under the scheme. Agyeman invented turnover figures…
Read moreA Joiner whose two companies failed to pay more than £300,000 in tax has been sentenced after ignoring a director disqualification. Robert Kurzawa was banned as a director for three years in 2017 after his RK UK Construction Ltd company went into liquidation owing more than £195,000 in tax. However, Kurzawa continued acting as a…
Read morePurbeck Insurance Services has reported a significant rise in the number and value of personal guarantee backed loans secured by young businesses. In Q2 2025, 16% of small business loans supported through Purbeck’s Personal Guarantee Insurance (PGI) were for businesses under two years old. This marks a sharp increase from 9% in Q1 2025 and just 6% in Q2 2024,…
Read morePrices in shops have risen at the fastest pace for more than a year and are 0.9% up on a year ago, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC). The increase comes as retailers pass on additional costs to consumers, with the Government having hiked both employer National Insurance contributions and the minimum wage. The…
Read moreExtreme currency fluctuations have caused SMEs to face substantial losses and are compelling businesses to change their FX strategy, according to data from independent SME funder, Bibby Financial Services (BFS). 54 per cent of SMEs surveyed say they’ve been stung by volatile exchange rates in the past year, losing over £53,000 on average as a result.…
Read moreIndustry leaders have warned that the hospitality sector is under increasing pressure, with 79% of pubs, restaurants, and bars raising prices due to increased operating costs. A survey by trade bodies including UKHospitality, the British Institute of Innkeeping and the British Beer & Pub Association shows that 73% of operators have less than six months…
Read moreLatest Office for National Statistics (ONS) data has shown that inflation has increased to 3.8 per cent in the year to July – its highest level in 18 months. Inflation rose at its fastest pace since January 2024, driven by rising food, fuel and transport costs and is up from 3.6 per cent in June.…
Read moreLatest ONS data has shown that GDP rose 0.4% month-on-month in June, following a 0.1% fall in May. The market had expected 0.1% growth GDP rose 0.3% in the quarter, versus market expectations of 0.1% growth, with services output growing by 0.3% month-on-month. Construction output grew 0.3% month-on-month whilst Production output grew 0.7% month-on-month. ONS…
Read moreThe director of a century-old Scottish machinery firm which went into administration last year has been banned after failing to declare more than £1.5 million in VAT. David Smith, was the director of FB Realisations Limited, which was known for decades as Balgownie Limited. However, for more than three years between 2019 and 2022, Smith…
Read moreThe Bank of England has cut interest rates to 4%, with the cut from 4.25% marking the fifth reduction since August 2024. The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted 5:4 for a cut. One voted for a 0.5% cut and four voted for rates to be held. Responding to the news, Federation of…
Read moreA Staffordshire businessman who sold seven historic cars, including two Jaguars and three Rolls-Royces for just £1 to another company he also controlled has been banned as a director. Kulbarg Singh, was the director of Aldridge Construction Engineering Ltd when he entered into an asset purchase agreement with Ace Earth Solutions Ltd in 2021. At…
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