UK average house prices increased by 10.0% over the year to November 2021, up from 9.8% in October 2021. The average UK house price was £271,000 in November 2021, which is £25,000 higher than this time last year.
The number of households suffering from ‘fuel stress' - spending at least 10 per cent of their family budgets on energy bills - is set to treble overnight to 6.3 million households when [b]the new energy price cap comes into effect on 1st April 2022. That is according to new research published on Monday18th January 2022 by the Resolution Foundation.
Real wages officially began to fall in November, and the current period of shrinking pay packets is likely to get worse before it starts to ease in the second half of 2022, the Resolution Foundation said today (Tuesday) in response to the latest ONS labour market statistics. Real regular average weekly earnings wages fell by 1 per cent in November off the back of rising inflation (CPI rose to 4.6 per cent) and falling nominal wage growth (down to 3.5 per cent).
Invitations being sent from this week. Children aged five to 11 years old who have specific medical conditions which place them at greater risk from COVID-19 will be invited for their first vaccination from this week onwards.
The Consumer Prices Index including owner occupiers' housing costs (CPIH) rose by 4.8% in the 12 months to December 2021, up from 4.6% in the 12 months to November. The largest upward contributions to the December 2021 CPIH 12-month inflation rate came from housing and household services (1.31 percentage points) and transport (1.29 percentage points, principally from motor fuels and second-hand cars).
Private rental prices paid by tenants in the UK rose by 1.8% in the 12 months to December 2021, up from 1.7% in the 12 months to November 2021. Private rental prices grew by 1.8% in England, 1.5% in Wales and 2.3% in Scotland in the 12 months to December 2021.
Developed by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), Pathfinder is a free six-month development programme for small to medium sized businesses. Delivered mostly online, Pathfinder provides fast-track training and mentoring for entrepreneurs looking to build a company or launch a new product.
After long period when not much was happening the Whatson section of Caithness.org had some techy issues - now resolved. Now that it looks like Covid restrictions are being reduced more event may be happening this years.
The Family Strategy, a new 10-year plan recognising the unique nature of military life and setting out bespoke support for service families, has been published today. The strategy will deliver lasting, cultural change over the next decade as it brings together innovative policies on health and wellbeing, education and career support.
8,495 new cases of COVID-19 reported. Please note that this figure now includes cases identified using either a first LFD (Lateral Flow Device) or PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) positive test.
Teenagers and young adults are urged to look out for symptoms and check that they have received all routine vaccinations. Recent data and analysis from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) shows that in autumn 2021 there was an increase in the number of cases of meningococcal disease in teenagers and young adults, mainly caused by group B meningococcal disease (MenB) - with the majority among university students.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson made a statement to the House of Commons on COVID-19. Mr Speaker, with permission I will make a statement on our progress against Omicron and the review of our Plan B measures.
Veterans' Strategy Action Plan launches, including more than 60 commitments to help veterans with employment and healthcare. New programmes to make better use of the unique skills and experience of military veterans, including as prison officers and the uniformed and health services, have been launched today.
This year, Wick High S2 Computing Science pupils took part in the BEBRAS UK Challenge. The challenge aims to introduce computational thinking to students and is designed to get students all over the world excited about Computing.
UK motorists can expect big changes this new year according to research done by vehicle finance specialist Carvine. Later this month, from January 29th, a batch of new Highway Code rules will come into force that will significantly impact how motorists behave behind the wheel.
A partnership providing free use of leisure facilities across Scotland - including Highland - now includes access to multiple leisure facilities across the Shetland Islands. The Leisure Link Partnership allows highlife card holders to access gym, public swimming and fitness classes at leisure centres across Aberdeen, Argyll and Bute, the Borders, Highland, Moray, Orkney, and The Western Isles - all at no extra cost.
The TV licence fee has been frozen for two years as the government moves to support families in the face of rising living costs. Fee will remain at £159 until 2024 before rising in line with inflation for four years.
Local government trade unions have today (Tuesday 18 January 2022) submitted a joint pay claim to COSLA calling for a ‘fair and decent' pay increase to make up for decades of cuts and to recognise the vital role these workers have played during the pandemic. The three trade unions - UNISON, Unite and GMB - submitted the pay claim calling for: • A £3,000 flat rate increase to all spinal column points (based on a 35 hr working week).
Report from the Office for National Statistics. Early estimates for December 2021 indicate that the number of payrolled employees rose by 4.8% compared with December 2020, a rise of 1,340,000 employees; the number of payrolled employees was up by 1.4% since February 2020, a rise of 409,000.
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (January, 18th) sold 9 prime cattle. Prime bullocks (4) averaged 237.1p (-0.8p) and sold to 248.0p per kg and £1,450.80 gross.
