Economy

Chancellor announces sweeping tax cuts in first mini-budget

Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng has today (23 September) announced a ream of tax cuts alongside a £60bn energy support package as part of the new government’s first mini-budget. Setting out his aims for economic growth, Kwarteng said that he wants the economy to increase by 2.5% annually in the medium-term, through…

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BoE raises interest rates to 2.25%

The Bank of England has today (22 September) announced that interest rates will be raised by 0.5%, with rates rising from 1.75% to 2.25%. The latest announcement from the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) comes as inflation remains at record highs for the UK, and marks the seventh consecutive rise in…

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Energy price cap to rise by 80% to £3,549 from October

Ofgem has confirmed that the energy price cap will increase by 80% to a record £3,549 a year for dual fuel for an average household from 1 October 2022.  The rise will affect those on standard variable tariffs, with the record annual bill only being based on typical usage. At…

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BoE hikes rates to 1.75%, warns UK to enter recession until 2024

The Bank of England (BoE) has raised interest rates from 1.25% to 1.75%, marking the biggest rise in rates since 1995. In its latest announcement, the BOE also projected that the UK would fall into a recession in the fourth quarter of the year, which is expected to last for…

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UK consumer confidence sinks to new record low in June

UK consumer confidence has fallen to the lowest level since records began during the month of June, according to the latest figures from GfK. GfK’s long-running Consumer Confidence Index decreased one point to -41, a new record with four measures down in comparison to the May 20 announcement, with one…

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BoE raises interest rates to 1.25%

The Bank of England’s (BoE) Monetary Policy Committee has voted to raise interest from 1% to 1.25% – marking its fifth rise in a row as it bids to offset the impact of rising inflation.  The Monetary Policy Committee voted by a majority of 6-3 to increase the rate to…

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Inflation hits 40-year high

UK inflation has hit its highest level in 40 years during the month of April, driven by the rising cost of energy bills. The figure, according to the latest figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS), was up from 7% in March. The ONS said that around 75% of…

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BoE raises interest rates to highest level since 2009

The bank of England (BoE) has raised interest rates to its highest level since 2009 – marking the fourth time it has taken action since December.  The new rate of 1%, up from 0.75%, is the BoE’s latest attempt to curb the rampant rise in inflation – also at its…

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UK GDP slows to 0.1% in February

Gross domestic product (GDP) slowed in the UK as the economy only saw 0.1% growth in February, down from a growth rate of 0.8% in January. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), services grew by 0.2% and was the main contributor to February’s growth in GDP, although this…

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High street footfall continues to lag behind pre-pandemic levels

Footfall levels remain 23% below pre-pandemic levels in February 2022 as rising costs are reportedly set to “batter” retailers from 1 April, according to RSM. The latest data from Datscha, analysed by RSM, shows the overall decline in footfall is the worst in London with numbers on Oxford Street down…

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