Latest News & Events
SMEs ‘still feeling the squeeze’ despite economic improvements April 23, 2014
Small and medium-sized businesses in the UK are still experiencing financial problems despite the trend towards economic recovery, recent research suggests. The latest Red Flag Alert from Begbies Traynor has revealed a 22% increase in the number of SMEs experiencing significant financial difficulties, when compared with the same period last year. In all, more than
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Lowest financial pressure for years, say families April 23, 2014
Financial data company Markit has released details of a survey indicating that families are less concerned about finances than they have been in five years. The company uses a Household Finance Index to gauge consumer confidence. The index rose to 43.1 in April, its highest level since 2009 when it began. However, any figure below
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Consumer confidence wavering, says data company April 23, 2014
Retail intelligence company Springboard has released figures showing that Easter shopping was down from last year. The bank holiday saw a drop in footfall by 1.9% compared to 2013, despite reports in recent months that consumers, homeowners and businesses feel more confident than they have since the start of the financial crisis. Marketing and insights
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Wages could beat inflation by end of April April 16, 2014
Economic forecaster The EY Item Club has said a ‘long period of low inflation’ could mean that average earnings will rise faster than the cost of living in the near future. Inflation has overtaken average pay increases over the years since the financial crisis. Paul Spencer, economic advisor, said: ‘We expect wage growth to overtake
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Economy still reliant on consumer spending April 16, 2014
Growth remains reliant on consumers while investment and exports have fallen by the wayside, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The economy must be ‘three engines powered’, said Christine Lagarde, head of the IMF. She added that the recovery is ‘predominantly driven by consumption. The UK has to export more, the UK has to
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