Disposable incomes grew in November but households will feel the pinch as inflation begins to bite, say experts December 29, 2016 Household disposable incomes have swelled by 4.5 per cent over the last year despite price inflation being at a two-year high. Including bonuses, the average cash families have to splash out on discretionary items stood at £202, up over £9 on the previous year, according to data prepared by the Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr) and [...]
An ageing population, robots taking jobs and increasing inequality: The 10 biggest dilemmas facing the UK in 2030 December 29, 2016 It's not even 2017 yet, but think tank the IPPR has turned its attentions to the year 2030, to work out what challenges the UK will be facing by then. The resulting report, Future Proof, suggests we'll be grappling with an ageing population, increased automation of jobs – and increasing inequality. But what will be the [...]
Four of Donald Trump’s New Year resolutions on the economy December 28, 2016 Predicting the future is hard. Predicting what US President-elect Donald Trump will do is potentially harder. Trump's campaigning style might politely be characterised as "shoot from the hip", which makes it tricky to know what exactly he has planned for the world's largest economy. Luckily, the man who will be leader of the free world [...]
No Brexit effect on their business say UK managers – but watch out for the broader economy December 28, 2016 British managers are confident about their prospects for the next year, but think Brexit is going to dent the UK economy over the course of 2017, according to a poll. More than half of managers think their own business has a positive outlook for the next year, compared to only a quarter who think they [...]
A sign of things to come? Mortgage approvals fall in November, although consumers are still borrowing at ultra-low rates December 28, 2016 Mortgage approvals are nine per cent lower than the same point last year, but UK consumers were still borrowing to power the economy in the five months after EU referendum. The number of house purchase mortgage approvals fell slightly in November to 40,659, down from 40,835 in October, according to the British Bankers’ Association (BBA), [...]
India’s economy to overtake UK – and France will enjoy a brief period on top as sterling fall makes its mark December 26, 2016 India’s economy is set to overtake the UK in size in the next two years as the second largest country by population continues its heady pace of development, according to a new study. France’s GDP will also rise above the UK’s for the next five years, according to forecasts in the World Economic League Table, [...]
Brexit confusion gives foreign firms “God-given opportunity” to steal UK business says Trump commerce secretary December 26, 2016 Brexit offers a “God-given opportunity” for foreign businesses to take market share from the UK, according to comments attributed to US President-elect Donald Trump’s new trade chief. Veteran distressed debt billionaire Wilbur Ross made the comments to finance executives in Cyprus in the period after the referendum – before his appointment by Trump as US [...]
The UK must leave the EU Single Market if it is to realise Brexit opportunities says Mervyn King December 26, 2016 Leaving the European Union offers “real opportunities” for the UK – as long as it is outside the Single Market – according to former Bank of England governor Mervyn King. Lord King also said the UK should be more “self-confident” in its approach to leaving, while saying that immigration controls were non-negotiable. “There are many [...]
Millions of Brits spend holidays at work on Christmas and Boxing Day – with Londoners most likely to have their feet up December 26, 2016 Millions of Brits are spending Christmas and Boxing Day at work, in a growing trend – although Londoners are most likely to have their feet up. Almost six per cent of UK employees work on Boxing Day, while 3.3 per cent work on Christmas Day itself, according to the Office for National Statistics. However, employees [...]
British businesses shrug off post-Brexit vote gloom as confidence hits highest level since June – although skills shortages are now a concern, says IoD December 26, 2016 British businesses are positive about the outlook for 2017, with confidence for the year ahead reaching its highest level since the vote to leave the European Union, according to a new survey. However, concerns remain, with the country’s economic situation and and a tightening labour market casting a pall, according to the poll by the [...]
