UK inflation rose more than expected to a 15-month high of 3.5 per cent in April, driven by higher household bills, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The rise was up on March’s 2.6 per cent and also higher than the 3.3 per cent figure predicted by analysts Economists stated the increase was…
Read moreThe latest Business Trends report from BDO, the business advisory and accountancy firm, reveals UK employment has reached a new 12-year low as businesses grapple with rising labour costs and global uncertainty. This drop in the BDO Employment Index signals further cooling of the UK jobs market, with vacancies continuing to decline in Q1 and falling below…
Read moreLatest data from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) has shown that inflation fell slightly to 2.6% in March, down from the 2.8% reported in February. Annualised inflation was forecast to come in at 2.7%. Core Inflation (excluding food, energy, alcohol, and tobacco) came in at 4.2% in the 12 months to March, down from…
Read moreThe percentage of UK small businesses predicting growth has fallen to a four-year low (29%) – with significant falls in the manufacturing, construction and retail sectors – according to new figures from Novuna Business Finance. Nationally, growth outlook now stands at its lowest level since Q1 2021 (26%), and – if the first lockdown periods…
Read moreA survey by Deloitte has revealed that concerns about geopolitical risks among FTSE 350 finance chiefs were at their highest level since the onset of the Ukraine conflict. Concern has only grown since US President Donald Trump started his trade war., According to the survey, CFOs of the UK’s largest businesses are assuming their most…
Read moreA snap poll of 562 Institute of Directors members following President Trump’s tariffs announcement has found that over a third (37%) of business leaders expect to be impacted by the tariffs and of those, over two-thirds (70%) expect their profits to decrease as a result. In response to the tariffs, 35% of members will be…
Read moreThe Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, has delivered her Spring Statement outlining the Government’s economic plans. Responding to the announcement, Policy Chair of the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), Tina McKenzie, said “Today’s growth figures are a stark reminder of the urgent need to get the economy moving. The whole of Government must now step up and…
Read moreThe Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, has delivered her Spring Statement outlining the Government’s economic plans. Responding to the announcement, David Postings, Chief Executive of UK Finance, said “The chancellor’s Spring Statement focused on stability and growth in the UK. We welcome the government’s continued commitment to growing the economy and the financial services sector is committed…
Read moreChancellor, Rachel Reeves is set to announce 60 measures aimed at reducing regulatory burdens and stimulating economic. With between 100 and 130 regulatory bodies currently in the UK, the Government plans to significantly cut this number. The new ‘radical action plan’ will be published following consultations with regulators, as the Government seeks to address deteriorating…
Read moreLatest data from Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed that the economy fell 0.1% in January. GDP had been expected to rise 0.1% month-on-month. Services output grew 0.1% month-on-month whilst construction output fell 0.2% month-on-month. Production fell 0.9% month-on-month. Commenting on today’s GDP figures for January, ONS Director of Economic Statistics Liz McKeown said “The…
Read moreA Business Confidence Survey by the Adam Smith Institute (ASI) has revealed that over 77% of business leaders in the UK have “low” or “very low” confidence in the current economic climate. The data showed that only 3.8% of respondents had ‘high or very high confidence.’ The average ‘Business Confidence Score’ across the survey was…
Read moreBusiness confidence amongst UK CEOs is growing, despite ongoing geopolitical and macroeconomic challenges, according to the latest EY-Parthenon CEO Outlook survey. The survey of 100 UK CEOs, which evaluates optimism levels and provides insights on capital allocation, investment and transformation strategies, found that 82% of UK CEOs felt very or somewhat optimistic about the business…
Read moreThe UK economy experienced a modest growth of 0.1% in November, falling short of the anticipated 0.2% increase, as reported by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Liz McKeown, Director of Economic Statistics at the ONS, said “The economy continues to be broadly flat, having grown slightly in November following two small falls in the…
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