Royal Mail has announced a temporary suspension of £5 fines imposed on individuals who receive mail with counterfeit stamps, responding to concerns over the surge in fake stamps, particularly from China. Reports indicate that the switch to a barcode-based system has led to an increase in fraudulent stamps, prompting complaints from customers who were penalized […]
According to data from the British Retail Consortium and NielsenIQ, shop price growth decelerated to just 0.8% in the year leading up to April, marking the slowest increase since December 2021. This downward trend was particularly pronounced in food prices, which saw inflation drop to 3.4% this month, the lowest level recorded since March 2022. […]
Whitbread, the owner of Premier Inn, is to close underperforming restaurants and convert them into hotel rooms with the loss of 1,500 jobs. As part of this plan, the FTSE 100 company intends to convert 112 sites with lower returns into new hotel accommodations and divest 126 others, ultimately adding 3,500 rooms over the next […]
A dire shortage of construction skills and persistent planning delays pose significant threats to infrastructure projects, despite heightened interest from pension funds to invest in the sector. Randstad’s analysis reveals a pressing need to recruit 500,000 individuals to fulfill demand for ongoing large-scale projects and upcoming schemes, including the Lower Thames Crossing, National Grid expansion, […]
The persistent decrease in job vacancies is underscoring a cooling labour market, fueling optimism for potential interest rate cuts in the coming months. According to the latest labour market report by Adzuna, a leading job search engine, vacancies have plummeted by over 17% year-on-year, with a further 0.5% decline on a month-on-month basis. The ratio […]
Potholes plaguing British roads exact a heavy toll on the economy, with the total cost surpassing £14 billion annually, according to recent findings. The Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) sheds light on the multifaceted impact of road damage, encompassing repair expenses, traffic accidents, commuter delays, and heightened emissions. Douglas McWilliams, Deputy Chairman of […]
The UK is grappling with the aftermath of a ‘washout winter,’ which threatens to drive up prices for essential goods such as bread, beer, and biscuits, as key crop yields face a significant decline of nearly a fifth due to unprecedented wet weather conditions. Analysis conducted by the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) indicates […]
Article content An increasing number of Canadians have delayed filing their taxes because they’re worried about owing money this year, according to a new survey by H&R Block Canada. With less than a week to go before the April 30 deadline, 23 per cent have yet to file their taxes, according to the survey of […]
World wine consumption dropped to its lowest level since 1996 last year, with production down 10 per cent, after the world’s worst grape harvest in 62 years, a new report has revealed. While the rising cost of living has put a dent in consumption trends, experts at the Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV), monitoring […]
MPs have cast doubt over the UK government’s readiness for post-Brexit border control checks, which are due to come in next week, arguing that a scaling back of its plans appeared to represent a sixth delay to their long-awaited introduction. The environment, food and rural affairs select committee (EFRA) has written to the government demanding […]