Pound rallies on record employment figures
25 Jan 2018 | No Comments | posted by david | in News
UK unemployment fell by 3,000 to 1.44m in the 3 months to November, according to the ONS, which is at a 40 year low of 4.3%. The number of those in work rose to to a record 32.2m and wages rose at their fastest rate in almost a year. The Pound rose to $1.41 its highest level since June 2016 – BBC News Daily Mail The Times Evening Standard
Businesses should look to whole-life costs of vehicles
22 Jan 2018 | No Comments | posted by david | in News
SMEs could save up to £1,440 per year if they switched to Electric motoring. A survey commissioned by Go Ultra Low found only 35% of businesses said they consider the whole-life costs of running a vehicle – Yorkshire Post
UK boating industry buoyed
17 Jan 2018 | No Comments | posted by david | in News
The UK`s Boat & Yacht industry has seen revenues surge to their highest level since the financial crisis after the weaker pound helped drive up sales. Sales rose by 3.4 % to £3.1bn in the year to April 2017, according to a report by lobby group British Marine, while overseas sales for UK marine manufacturers rose by 4.7 % last year – BBC news the Guardian
Manufacturing output expands at fastest rate since 2008
17 Jan 2018 | No Comments | posted by david | in News
ONS figures show manufacturing expanded for the seventh consecutive month in November, the longest period of monthly expansion in the sector since 1997.
During the 3 months to the end of November, manufacturing output was 3.9 % higher than the same period a year ago. – Financial Times -BBC news Daily Mail Daily Telegraph
small firms charged 20% interest by big banks
4 Jan 2018 | No Comments | posted by david | in News
new research reveals that high street banks are charging some customers more than 20 % in interest, despite receiving billions in tax payer support to ramp up lending.
financial information start-up DueDil found that Nat West & Santander are the most expensive of the big five high street lenders, with Nat West charging up to 29% for business loans throgh its Esme online service. The APR on Santanders online small business loans ranges from 4.9% to 25.9 % with directors required to put up their home or other assets as security. – The Sunday Times
public borrowing shrinks to 10 year low
4 Jan 2018 | No Comments | posted by david | in News
Government borrowing was at its lowest fot a decade in 2017 according to official data. Public borrowing was £48.1bn, the lowest since 2007, the ONS said.
Tax receipts were up 5% in November 2017 compared to November last year- The Daily Telegraph The Times Financial Times The Guardian
strong end to year for manufacturing
3 Jan 2018 | No Comments | posted by david | in News
the purchasing managers index (PMI) for manufacturing shows the sector finished 2017 with the best quarter of growth in more than 3 years. There was a slight downturn in December`s growth following rapid expansion in November, but the average reading of the PMI survey for the final 3 months of the year came to 57, the best performance since the second quarter of 2014. Firms are benefitting from the drop in sterling`s value and broader global economic growth. The survey showed that manufacturers continued to see a `solid increase` in export sales, especially from the US, Europe, China & the Middle East.- The Times- Daily Telegraph- The Guardian- Daily Mail- Financial Times- Daily Express – The Independent- Daily Mirror- The Sun – Amicus Times
Fewer Zombie firms
3 Jan 2018 | No Comments | posted by david | in News
the number of `zombie businesses` in Britain has hit a 5 1/2 year low, according to R3. It found the proportion of organisations stagnating because they can pay only the interest on their debts fell to 3% in December – 2% less than April 2017 & down from 9% in November 2012. it is also the lowest figure since R3 began tracking Zombie businesses in June 2012. R3`s research showed further signs that severe financial distress was in retreat. Only 1% of companies reported that they were having to negotiate payment terms with creditors, that they would be unable to repay debts if there were a small rise in interest rates or were struggling to pay debts when they fell due – The Times – Amicus Times