Inflation Falls To Four-Year Low
Inflation in February fell to 1.7 per cent from 1.9 per cent the previous month and a high of 2.9 per cent in June, taking it to the lowest level since October 2009, according to official figures released today (March 25). Continue reading
HMRC’s New Powers Could Damage Business
Proposed new powers allowing HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) to raid bank accounts to collect unpaid tax could be damaging and could lead to officials becoming “ a law unto themselves”.Continue reading
Retail Closure Rate Slowing
New research shows that the rate of shop closures slowed last year compared with 2012. Year-on-year, the number of net store closures fell by nearly 80 per cent, from 1,779 in 2012 to 371 in 2013.Continue reading
A Budget For Business
Business leaders have broadly welcomed yesterday’s Budget as one that will boost investment, exports and regional development and skills, with help for manufacturers high on the Chancellor’s agenda.Continue reading
Unemployment Falls
Figures out today (March 19) from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that the unemployment rate held steady at 7.2 per cent in the three months to January.Continue reading
Childcare Boost For Working Parents
In a pre-Budget announcement the Government has announced a new tax break scheme, due to come into force from Autumn 2015, for the working parents of children up to the age of 12 who need to pay for child care.Continue reading
Optimism On Output
Manufacturers in the UK are optimistic about the future, reporting higher output and orders during the first two months of the year than in the final quarter of last year.Continue reading
National Minimum Wage To Rise Above Inflation
It was announced this week that the national minimum wage (NMW) will increase for adults by 3 per cent, or 19p an hour, taking it to £6.50, while the rate for 18 to 20-year-olds will rise by 10p to £5.13, an increase of 2 per cent.Continue reading
More Calls To Scrap 40p Top Tax Rate
With the 2015 election looming, Chancellor George Osborne is coming under increasing pressure from within his own party to make announcements in the Budget that will win the Tories votes, and is being advised that scrapping the 40p rate could be an “iconic pledge”.Continue reading
Good News For Growth
According to the latest forecast from the Organisation of Economic Co–operation and Development (OECD), the UK will have the fastest rate of economic growth of any G7 major nation by the middle of the year, with an annualised growth rate forecast of 3.3 per cent. Continue reading
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