At this time of year there is always an increase in scams related to gardening and landscaping, where cold callers offer to cut trees, tidy gardens or clear gutters They often ask for money on the spot, either as a deposit or to pay for materials, but don't return to complete the work. Here are some recent case studies: Cold callers visited several properties around Inverness, offering to cut and tidy trees.
The Price Index of Private Rents (PIPR) measures private rent inflation for new and existing tenancies. The UK House Price Index measures house price inflation.
Borrowing - the difference between public sector spending and income - was £15.0 billion in May 2024, £0.8 billion more than in May 2023 and the third highest May borrowing since monthly records began in 1993. Borrowing in the financial year-to-May 2024 was £33.5 billion, £0.4 billion more than in the same two-month period a year earlier and the fourth highest year-to-May borrowing since monthly records began.
Retail sales volumes (quantity bought) rose by 2.9% in May 2024, following a fall of 1.8% in April 2024 (revised from a fall of 2.3%). Sales volumes rose across most sectors, with clothing retailers and furniture stores rebounding following poor weather in April.
Some of the most frequently reported doorstep scams relate to roofing, where a cold caller says that urgent repair or maintenance work is required. One couple in Aberdeenshire recently agreed to have their roof tiles replaced for a cost of £13,000, to be paid in cash.
Highland is in the broad rental market area of Highland and Islands. Private rents in Highland and Islands averaged at £668 a month in May 2024.
There are continuing reports of courier fraud across Scotland, with people losing thousands of pounds to scammers posing as police officers. The scammers typically cold call and say they have concerns regarding fraudulent use of your bank card.
After 5 July the hard work begins. Then we have to work out how truly socially transformative ideas can be promoted so that the 2029 election campaign can be won for the people of this country.
Addressing rising incapacity and disability benefit spending will be a key task for whoever wins the next election. But with the increase driven by Britain ageing, becoming less healthy and experiencing more disability, politicians will need to focus on the underlying causes of a rising caseload, not just on restricting the eligibility and generosity of claims, according to new Resolution Foundation research published today (Thursday 20 June 2024).
CPI inflation has fallen back to the Bank of England's target of 2 per cent for the first time since July 2021 - a welcome return to normality – but worries about the legacy of high prices and stubborn underlying inflation remain, the Resolution Foundation said on Wednesday 19 June 2024 The biggest downward contribution to the fall in inflation in May came from a welcome fall in food-price inflation, which fell to 1.7 per cent in May, the lowest annual rate since October 2021, reflecting falls in food prices. This was partially offset by higher petrol prices.
The latest Yougov poll Show further slides in the number of seats for Tory and SNP. Keir Starmer continues to be on a record-breaking path, according to YouGov's latest general election MRP model.
A welcome new political consensus is emerging on housing, with the Conservative and Labour manifestos both combining support for first-time buyers with stretching housebuilding targets. But the lack of cash for affordable housing will make these targets hard to hit, according to new Resolution Foundation research published yesterday.
The Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) sets monetary policy to meet the 2% inflation target, and in a way that helps to sustain growth and employment. At its meeting ending on 19 June 2024, the MPC voted by a majority of 7-2 to maintain Bank Rate at 5.25%.
The Consumer Prices Index including owner occupiers' housing costs (CPIH) rose by 2.8% in the 12 months to May 2024, down from 3.0% in the 12 months to April. On a monthly basis, CPIH rose by 0.4% in May 2024, compared with a rise of 0.6% in May 2023.
Producer input prices fell by 0.1% in the year to May 2024, up from a revised fall of 1.4% in the year to April. Producer output (factory gate) prices rose by 1.7% in the year to May 2024, up from an increase of 1.1% in the year to April.
Scotland's Chief Statistician today released the latest annual Council Tax Reduction statistics. In March 2024, Scotland’s Council Tax Reduction scheme supported 461,550 households (an increase of 1.6 per cent from 454,350 in March 2023) and the total weekly income forgone by local authorities was £7.543 million (an increase of 2.4 per cent from £7.364 million in March 2023).
A waste management firm has started a £200million court claim against Scottish ministers over the failed bottle recycling scheme. Lawyers for Biffa Waste Services Ltd addressed judge Lord Clark at the Court of Session yesterday.
This release by Public Health Scotland (PHS) relates to the length of time patients wait to be seen as a new outpatient or admitted for treatment as an inpatient or day case. The latest statistics represent all patients covered by the national standards for these stages of treatment.
More than 880 people have arrived in the UK in a single day after crossing the English Channel - a new record for the year so far. Home Office figures show 882 people arrived in 15 small boats on Tuesday.
In this election, people are crying out for principled leadership, which is prepared to argue for what it believes in. In this election, and in this manifesto, that is what the SNP is offering - moderate left of centre policies to make life better for the people of Scotland.
