The Bank of England is set to maintain its base rate at 4.5% when its Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) announces its latest decision on Thursday, as policymakers weigh inflation risks against economic growth. With inflation rising to 3% in January, analysts predict the Bank will take a cautious approach, despite market expectations of two further […]
Millions of motorists are poised to receive payouts without having to file a claim, under plans being drawn up by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to address the car finance mis-selling scandal. The watchdog aims to introduce an industry-wide redress scheme obliging banks to identify and compensate affected customers directly, cutting out claims management companies […]
More than 70 of the UK’s largest retailers, including Tesco, Marks & Spencer, Boots, and B&Q, have warned Chancellor Rachel Reeves that her proposed hike in National Insurance will lead to unavoidable staff layoffs and store closures. In a letter seen by Business Matters, the retailers expressed deep concern over the “sheer scale” of new […]
HMRC will reduce the interest rate it charges on late tax payments to 7.25% from 18th November, following the recent cut in the Bank of England’s base rate. However, this reduction highlights a stark disparity: taxpayers will receive only 3.75% interest on tax refunds, leaving a 3.5% gap in favour of HMRC. The revised interest […]
The Post Office has announced potential closures of 115 Crown Post Office branches, placing up to 1,000 jobs at risk in a significant restructuring aimed at reducing losses. The proposed changes may lead to franchise arrangements with third-party operators like WHSmith taking over affected branches. However, this shake-up has drawn sharp criticism from unions and […]
Barclays has introduced the Business Prosperity Index, a new quarterly report offering a detailed view of UK business performance and growth opportunities. Created with the Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr), the index combines data from over one million Barclays business clients—including lending, cash flow, and international payments data—and survey insights from 1,000 business […]
Celebrating the best in British business, the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards last night honoured entrepreneur and style icon Trinny Woodall with its prestigious Inspiration Award. London’s Grosvenor Hotel set the scene for an evening celebrating Britain’s business elite at the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards. With twenty categories spotlighting the country’s most innovative and […]
In the modern digital space, responsive web design is a crucial determinant of success. It automatically readjusts the web layout to different screen sizes and devices in such a way that comfortable use is enabled via any mobile phone, tablet, or desktop. As soon as many users started surfing the internet through their phones, and […]
Shoplifting in England and Wales has soared to its highest level since records began, with criminals seemingly operating “without fear of apprehension.” The Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported a 30% increase in shoplifting offences compared to last year, with 443,995 incidents recorded in the year to March 2024. This surge in theft has coincided […]
The Conservative Party is set to release a letter today, signed by numerous small business owners, in a last-ditch effort to persuade undecided voters of their economic stewardship ahead of the general election. The letter, expected to be published on the final day before the election, is said to be signed by between 100 and […]