Retail sales volumes are estimated to have increased by 1.2% in February 2023, following a rise of 0.9% in January 2023 (revised from a rise of 0.5%); when compared with the same month a year earlier sales volumes fell by 3.5%. Looking at the broader picture, sales volumes fell by 0.3% in the three months to February 2023 when compared with the previous three months.
HMRC interest rates for late payments will be revised following the Bank of England interest rate rise to 4.25%. The Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee announced on 23 March 2023 to increase the Bank of England base rate to 4.25% from 4%.
The office for National Statistics has reported retail sales figures in Great Britain for February. Retail sales volumes are estimated to have increased by 1.2% in February 2023 following a revised rise of 0.9% in January.
Today's ONS retail figures saw sales volumes climb by 1.2% in February and the amount shoppers spent rise by 1.6%. Online sellers also grabbed their share of the action, with e-commerce spending climbing 2.6%.
The Highland Council will hold a drop-in session at the end of the month to share the design for the pedestrian zone in the High Street and the Bridge Street/High Street junction, part of the wider regeneration of Wick town centre. The purpose of the session is to share more detail so the Council can finalise the design, secure a funding stream and move on to preparing tender documents and the construction phase.
Healthcare staff will begin to benefit from largest overall investment in Agenda for Change pay in a single year from next month, following unions' unanimous agreement. 160,000 NHS staff - including nurses, midwives, paramedics, allied health professionals, porters and others – will receive an average 6.5% increase in pay in 2023-24.
The framework for public sector pay increases in 2023-24 has been published, recognising the volatility of economic conditions while balancing the need for sustainable public services. The new Public Sector Pay Strategy recommends public sector workers receive an increase of 3.5%, in line with the UK Government's recommended pay rise for the public sector.
The people of Scotland and island communities have been badly let down, says Holyrood's Public Audit Committee in a report published today which exposes a ferry fiasco riddled with failures in governance, transparency, accountability, communication and record-keeping. The cost is now approaching £500 million and some commentators have pointed out that at least 20 ferries of similar capacity could have been purchased from established Norwegian companies for that sum.
The GMB Union have reported - Food workers supplying Tesco, Sainsbury's and Waitrose are heading to Parliament after 1,000 workers were hit with a fire and rehire threat. Pilgrims Food Masters, which also supplies Aldi and Morrisons, has told workers they will be sacked and reemployed on worse terms and conditions - including no paid breaks, reduced sick pay and the removal of Diwali holiday pay.
Analysis from The Fraser of Allender Institute looking at - The Scottish Fiscal Commission have today published their first Fiscal Sustainability Report. This is a very different analysis to their regular forecasts for the Scottish Economy, tax receipts and social security payments.
The Committee seeks to achieve maximum employment and inflation at the rate of 2 percent over the longer run. In support of these goals, the Committee decided to raise the target range for the federal funds rate to 4-3/4 to 5 percent.
The Scottish Fiscal Commission today said that the Scottish Government will face long-term challenges in funding the delivery of public services. Their Fiscal Sustainability Report shows that over the next 50 years spending on public services will increase because of pressures from rising costs of delivery and an ageing population.
More than 90 business experts have been enlisted as prison employment advisors to help drive thousands of prison leavers into work and away from a life of crime. business leaders from top firms now offering expertise at all 92 ‘resettlement' prisons.
Twelve Scottish Government benefits including Carer's Allowance Supplement and Best Start Grants will be increased by 10.1% on 1 April, backed by investment of around £430 million. The Scottish Child Payment was increased by 150% in 2022 to £25 per eligible child per week.
The Consumer Prices Index including owner occupiers' housing costs (CPIH) rose by 9.2% in the 12 months to February 2023, up from 8.8% in January. The largest upward contributions to the annual CPIH inflation rate in February 2023 came from housing and household services (principally from electricity, gas, and other fuels), and food and non-alcoholic beverages.
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (March 21ST) sold 29 Prime Cattle. Prime Bullocks (6) averaged 298.5p per kg (N/C) and sold to 303.0p per kg and £1,965.00 gross.
International Technology Strategy launched to guide UK to becoming a tech superpower by 2030. Strategy sets out how UK can make the best use of new technologies while countering malign influences on tech.
The government will provide a plan to promote cyber resilience across the health and care sectors by 2030, protecting both services and patients. New strategy sets out five key ways to build cyber resilience in health and care by 2030.
Scottish firms had over 1.2 million overdue invoices on their books this winter, new research from insolvency and restructuring trade body R3 has revealed. R3's analysis of data provided by Creditsafe shows 1,231,703 invoices were overdue in Scotland over the winter months - with 416,856 in December 2022, 400,272 in January 2023 and 414,575 in February 2023.
