The average interest paid on easy access savings accounts rose to 2.11% in June 2024, up from 1.66% in July 2023 when we published our review. We estimate savers are £4bn a year better off from higher interest rates as a result.
New rules from the Financial Conduct Authority to protect access to cash have come into force and are already having a positive impact in local communities. Since the rules were confirmed in July, LINK, which manages the UK's cash access and ATM network, has reassessed the needs of local areas where banking services are changing.
New package of measures aimed at tackling scourge of late payments. New Fair Payment Code and fresh rules on company reporting and major consultation unveiled as part of package to tackle late payments.
The Consumer Prices Index including owner occupiers' housing costs (CPIH) rose by 3.1% in the 12 months to August 2024, unchanged from July. On a monthly basis, CPIH rose by 0.4% in August 2024, the same rate as in August 2023.
The Scottish Government is considering merging two existing frameworks for the provision of mobile and desktop devices to create a single £200m commercial vehicle. The government currently has two separate agreements in place: a £125m agreement for mobile devices; and a £75m engagement for desktop machines.
The press are having a field day with more and more revelations about what freebie and gifts are given to top politicians. Keir Starmer has declared more free tickets and gifts than other major party leaders in recent times, with his total now topping £100,000 after recent support for his lifestyle from Labour donor Waheed Alli.
The British Embassy is celebrating a significant milestone in UK-Philippine trade relations: the return of UK poultry imports to the Philippines. The British Ambassador to the Philippines hosted a networking reception at her residence on September 17, celebrating a significant milestone in UK-Philippine trade relations: the return of UK poultry imports to the Philippines after a three-year ban due to highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).
Producer input prices fell by 1.2% in the year to August 2024, down from a revised increase of 0.2% in the year to July 2024. Producer output (factory gate) prices rose by 0.2% in the year to August 2024, down from an increase of 0.8% in the year to July 2024.
Plans to extend marine planning zones have been put out to public consultation. Fish and shellfish farms require planning permission out to twelve nautical miles, however local authority responsibilities for planning controls currently only extend to three nautical miles.
Annualised inflation came in at 2.2% in August unchanged from the 2.2% reported in July. Annualised inflation was forecast to come in at 2.2% (Trading Economics).
The UK HPI shows house price changes for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. On average, house prices have risen 0.6% since June 2024 there has been an annual price rise of 2.2% which makes the average property in the UK valued at £289,000.
Foreign Secretary travels to Norway to strengthen defence and security cooperation. the Foreign Secretary will visit Norwegian Joint Headquarters with Norway's Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide to discuss deepening UK-Norway security collaboration.
Main announcement - Interest Rate Reduced by half a percent Watch Fed Res announcement live on 18 September. Bank of England announcement on 19 September.
UK Trade Minister signs trade pact designed to boost trade and investment with Thailand and open the country up to British businesses. UK seals ambitious Enhanced Trade Partnership (ETP) designed to boost trade and investment with Thailand.
UK legal services will be at the forefront of one of the world's biggest legal gatherings this week to promote the UK as a place to do business. International legal professionals to meet UK legal services experts GREAT Legal Services events take place alongside the International Bar Association Annual Conference Roundtables and joint Law Society reception show UK government commitment to supporting UK legal sector and driving economic growth.
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency has returned to the Emergency Services Show, with staff sharing developments towards the next generation of search and rescue. Visitors to this year's event in Birmingham will have the opportunity to chat to HM Coastguard colleagues about their work and the latest specialist kit, as well as learning about potential future technologies.
The government has announced £88 million of funding has been awarded to 46 innovative projects that will help boost zero emission vehicle tech. New industry and government funding announced to boost zero emission vehicle tech, creating jobs and helping deliver long-term economic growth.
TRUTHS is a UK-led mission to create a space-based climate and calibration observatory that will improve confidence in climate change forecasts and support net zero mitigation strategies and their impact. The Traceable Radiometry Underpinning Terrestrial- and Helio-Studies (TRUTHS) mission, delivered by ESA, will collect the most accurate measurements of energy coming into the Earth from the Sun, and light reflected off Earth's surface, to help understand changes in balance (global warming) and humanity's impact on the planet.
More than half of Scottish businesses (57%) have experienced little to no impact from the Scottish Government's income tax policy, while 34% have felt the effects more sharply, according to the latest Fraser of Allander Institute's Scottish Business Monitor (SBM) for Q2 2024. The survey, conducted in May, gathered responses from over 300 firms across various sectors of the Scottish economy.
The Government's welcome planning reforms could deliver a step change in housebuilding over the parliament. But it will need to bolster these reforms with direct investment if it is to meet its target of creating 1.5 million more homes over the parliament, according to new Resolution Foundation research.