News And Announcements

Hunt unveils plans for UK economy, rules out tax cuts
The chancellor Jeremy Hunt looked to rule out any imminent tax cuts on Friday, arguing that inflation needs to fall first.

HS2 could stop short of central London - report
Surging costs could see the controversial High Speed 2 rail link stop short of central London, it was reported on Friday.

US new home sales pick up in December, but down for the year
US new home sales rose in December, but fell overall in 2022, according to figures released on Thursday by the Commerce Department.

Retail sales slide in January - CBI
Retail sales fell sharply in January, a closely-watched survey showed on Thursday, reversing festive gains.

UK producer price inflation eases
UK producer price inflation slowed in December, official data showed on Wednesday, as cost pressures eased.

Retail footfall in 'slow but steady' recovery
UK retail footfall reported strong growth during 2022, industry research showed on Wednesday, although it remains below pre-pandemic levels.
UK pub body calls for parliamentary probe into 'energy profiteering'
A UK pub industry lobby group has called for a parliamentary inquiry into what it called profiteering by the energy industry at the expense of its members.

UK factories see orders fall - CBI
The manufacturing sector continued to struggle over the last three months, a survey suggested on Tuesday, although cost pressures showed signs of easing.

UK recession fears mount as business activity slumps
Private sector business activity fell sharply in January, a well-regarded survey showed on Tuesday, as higher interest rates and weakening demand weighed heavily.

German consumer confidence edges higher
German consumer confidence is continuing to edge higher, a closely-watched survey showed on Tuesday, as energy costs ease.

UK government borrowing hits record high in December
UK government borrowing hit a fresh high in December, mostly due to the household energy support scheme and high debt interest costs.

UK recession likely to be worse than feared, warns EY
The UK economy is facing a deeper recession than currently expected, economic forecasters at EY warned on Monday.

Households paid to cut energy usage as cold snap bites
National Grid will pay some British households to use less power on Monday, the first time a new scheme will be put into practice.

Retail sales unexpectedly fall in December
Retail sales continued to fall in December, official data showed on Friday, as hard-pressed shoppers cut back on spending.

UK consumer confidence falters in January
Consumer confidence faltered in January, a well-regarded survey showed on Friday, as concerns about the strength of the economy weighed heavily.

House prices slump in December - RICS
House prices fell sharply in December, a closely-watched survey showed on Thursday, with weakness forecast to continue well into 2023.
Australian billionaire Andrew Forrest to open advanced battery plant in UK
Australian billionaire Andrew Forrest is planning to open an advanced battery plant in Oxfordshire later this year, creating up to 300 new jobs.

UK inflation eases in December
UK inflation eased in December, but remained close to a 40-year high, according to figures released on Wednesday by the Office for National Statistics.

Investor morale jumps in Germany
Investor sentiment bounced back in Germany, a closely-watched survey suggested on Tuesday, beating expectations.

Germany sees inflation ease
German inflation continued to ease in December, official data showed on Tuesday, as energy prices softened.