Mortgage providers have begun raising interest rates to levels not seen since the financial crisis as economists warned that growing borrowing costs would trigger a steep fall in house prices. HSBC and Santander suspended new mortgage deals yesterday. Nationwide became the first big lender to increase fixed-rate deals, with its two-year rate rising to 5.59 […]Read More

Pub giant JD Wetherspoon has announced it will sell off 32 pubs across the UK due to rising costs. The hospitality chain, which operates 800 pubs across the UK, said it has made the ‘commercial decision’ after previously warning it could face losses of up to £30million. In a statement, company spokesman Eddie Gershon said: […]Read More

With today marking three weeks since Liz Truss was appointed the UK Prime Minister has revealed that despite consumers reduced spending power in the wake of record inflation and the energy crisis, independent retailers are having to rely on the support of consumers and their local community, rather than the government, to keep them in business. […]Read More

Trends data shows searches for furniture for home working are still significantly up since the pandemic, potentially indicating that a Great Return to the office as a result of the cost-of-living crisis may not be guaranteed. Rising bills have pundits and business leaders alike anticipating an end to hybrid working, particularly as we enter the […]Read More

Virgin Atlantic has unveiled a new policy  which removes the requirement for staff to wear gendered clothing. The British airline will now allow crew, pilots, and ground teams to wear either red or burgundy depending on their gender identity – removing the previous need for men to wear burgundy and women, red. In a move […]Read More

The end of the satellite television dish is in sight after Sky said it would start offering most of its services via a set-top streaming box. Although Sky has denied claims it will stop installing new satellite dishes next year, one source at the company suggested it is ultimately a matter of “when, not if” […]Read More

Post-Brexit border checks have slowed the speed at which Eurostar passengers pass through London St Pancras on their way to Paris, reducing the terminal’s capacity by one-third, according to the cross-Channel rail company’s boss. The rail operator’s chief executive, Jacques Damas, said central London had only avoided the kind of chaos and queues seen at […]Read More

The International Monetary Fund has openly criticised the UK government over its plan for tax cuts, warning that the measures are likely to fuel the cost-of-living crisis. In an unusually outspoken statement, the IMF said the proposal was likely to increase inequality and add to pressures pushing up prices. Markets have already raised alarm over […]Read More

City insiders have warned that tax cuts designed to stimulate economic growth might have the opposite effect. Bankers, bond traders and economists that Business Matters has spoken to cast doubt on the government policy that was announced on Friday. The Chancellor and Prime Minister’s guiding star has been that if you put more money in […]Read More

Royal Mail workers are to hold 19 days of strike action over pay and terms and conditions during the peak postal build-up to Christmas. The Communication Workers Union (CWU) said the strikes will cover Black Friday and Cyber Monday. It said its “significant announcement” reflects the “level of anger” workers feel. Royal Mail Group said […]Read More