U.K. braces for ‘disruptive’ strike as junior doctors seek pay hike
The walkout by junior doctors, who form the backbone of hospital and clinic care in the National Health Service, is due to last until 7 a.m. on Saturday.
Inflation
Cost of Easter rises in UK as inflation hits chocolate eggs and hot cross buns
Traditional roast lamb will also make a bigger dent this year as lamb and goat prices climb by 9.4%The cost of Easter has soared by nearly a quarter compared with last year, as inflation hits popular items including chocolate eggs and hot cross buns, a…
Co-op expects fall in profits amid ‘turbulent economic headwinds’
Warning for year ahead comes as profits fall 11% at grocery arm but remain steady across rest of groupThe Co-operative Group has warned its profits are likely to fall in the year ahead as the food to funerals group expects the “turbulent economic headw…
Bank of England ‘may need to cut interest rates earlier and faster’
MPC member Silvana Tenreyro expects such a move ‘to avoid significant inflation undershoot’The Bank of England may need to cut interest rates earlier and faster as the impact from previous increases drags down the economy and pulls back inflation, one …
PM reportedly issued invitation to visit Beijing – as it happened
This blog is now closed.RBA hits pause on offical interest rate at 3.6% but says further rises may be neededGet our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcastAustralia’s new high commissioner to the UK, Stephen Smith, says becomi…
Half of all UK consumers have cut non-essential spending
KPMG study shows scale of household spending cutbacks, with eating out hit particularly hardMore than half of UK consumers have cut back on discretional spending since the start of the year, with nearly two-thirds choosing to reduce the amount they spe…
Eurozone inflation falls sharply as energy prices drop
Annual rate down to 6.9% this month, with signs of cost of living pressures easingThe eurozone’s annual inflation rate fell sharply in March as plunging energy prices eased pressure on the cost of living across the 20 countries that use the single curr…
UK firms report surge in orders amid signs of economic recovery
After UK narrowly misses recession IoD reports rise in business demand, confidence, hiring and investment in March Britain’s businesses are reporting a spring surge in order books, boosting hopes that the economy may finally be recovering after flirtin…
Rising bills and tax hikes to make UK families hundreds of pounds worse off
Study commissioned by Guardian details scale of hit to household finances from AprilA wave of rising bills and tax hikes coming into effect in April will leave a family on a £50,000 annual income almost £700 a year worse off, according to a study of th…
Jeremy Hunt promises to find extra cash to help fund public sector pay deals
Chancellor tells MPs that high level of inflation means Treasury support is necessary to avoid cutting frontline servicesJeremy Hunt has pledged to find additional money to help fund public sector pay deals after admitting that Britain’s high level of …