Ahead of Budget 2016 on 16 March, the Resolution Foundation urges government to help more over 50s into work and rethink its old-fashioned approach to unemployment February 27, 2016 A think tank has offered a word of advice to chancellor George Osborne this morning ahead of the budget: if this government wants to achieve full employment, it must focus on helping over 50s get into work. Ahead of publishing a full report on employment next week, the Resolution Foundation urged government to put helping over 50s [...]
The amount we spent on contactless cards trebled to £7.8bn in 2015, with the payment method proving particularly popular with London commuters February 26, 2016 The way we're spending is changing, with the value of transactions on contactless cards soaring last year, according to research released today. The study by The UK Cards Association discovered that spending on contactless cards hit £7.8bn in 2015, up 233 per cent from £2.3bn in 2014. The number of transactions carried out contactlessly also rose to [...]
Brent crude and WTI: Oil prices rise as traders close short positions February 26, 2016 Oil prices reversed earlier losses to inch into positive territory this morning, however traders warned that the gains were largely due to "technical" movements. Brent crude, the global benchmark, increased 1.3 per cent to $35.74 per barrel. Meanwhile, West Texas Intermediate crude, the US benchmark swelled 1.33 per cent to $33.51. But traders said the [...]
House prices rise again, with the value of London residential properties shooting up by 14 per cent year-on-year, while sales inch down two per cent February 26, 2016 The price of residential property has edged up with the capital seeing the biggest increases in value over the last year, figures released today show. According to the Land Registry's monthly market trend data for January 2016, the average price of residential property in England and Wales rose by 7.1 per cent over a year and [...]
EU referendum: Brexit could cause turmoil for more than half of small businesses in London who are relying on a workforce that comes from across the EU February 26, 2016 A Brexit could be bad news for more than half of small businesses in London who are counting on migrant workers to keep them up and running, according to a specialist accounting firm. "We do the accounting for several hundred small businesses in London, with more than half of them relying on a workforce that includes [...]
London workers did nearly £9,000 of unpaid overtime last year – as the UK racks up £31.5bn of unpaid work February 26, 2016 We're all used to putting in those extra few hours a week – but how much would you make if you were actually paid for it? New research has calculated that the average London worker could have made an extra £8,669 last year… The research by the Trades Union Congress, found 5.1m UK workers collectively [...]
Oil price rises despite a hike in US stockpiles February 25, 2016 Oil bounced back late last night after losing ground earlier in the day. The rise was due to Venezuela reaffirming a mid-March meeting of oil producers that would include Saudi Arabia, Russia and Qatar. Saudi has been working to broker a deal with both Opec and non-Opec countries to stabilise prices that have slumped 70 per [...]
Sterling keeps clear of hitting 30-year low February 25, 2016 Sterling held its ground today, managing to steer clear of a 30-year low against the dollar. The pound spiked at $1.3996, a climb of around half a per cent on its value at the start of the day. However, if later fell back to $1.3920. The pound has fallen sharply this week after London Mayor [...]
Brent crude and WTI: Oil prices fall further as oversupply concerns grow February 25, 2016 Oil prices fell further today after new data stoked concern that the supply glut is continuing to build against a backdrop of slowing global growth. Brent crude, the global benchmark, added to earlier losses shedding 1.69 per cent to $33.83 per barrel. Meanwhile, West Texas Intermediate crude, the US benchmark, fell 2.27 per cent to $31.42. U.S. government data showed [...]
Eurozone money supply and lending pick up in January February 25, 2016 Lending and money supply growth in the Eurozone picked up in January, according to figures published by the European Central Bank this morning. Borrowing by households climbed 1.4 per cent compared with the same month last year, the same rate as in December. However, lending to non-financial corporations bounced back to 0.6 per cent growth from 0.1 [...]