The competition regulator has opened a drip pricing investigation into Trainline, Virgin Atlantic and RED Driving School over concerns that mandatory fees were not shown to customers upfront.
Category: Finance
Financial advice for owners and managers of small and medium sized business SMEs in the UK All your tax, borrowing and administration advice
UK inflation rises to 2.9% after energy price cap increase
UK inflation climbed to 2.9 per cent in July, its highest since March, after a 13 per cent rise in the Ofgem energy price cap took effect — with investors now weighing the chance of an interest rate rise before the end of the year.
Personal insolvencies jump 14 per cent as IVAs climb to highest level since 2022
Personal insolvencies in England and Wales were 14 per cent higher in July than a year earlier, driven by a rise in individual voluntary arrangements that took monthly numbers to their highest since November 2022.
UK sells ten-year gilts at 5.155%, highest rate since 2007
UK borrowing costs hit a near two-decade high on Tuesday as the government sold ten-year gilts at 5.155 per cent, the highest rate since August 2007.
Aviva and Aberdeen bosses urge Healey to stop pre-budget tax leaks
Aviva and Aberdeen chiefs urge John Healey to stop budget leaks after pension tax speculation led savers to withdraw cash before the last two budgets.
Harrods returns to £84.9m profit after Al Fayed compensation payouts
Harrods profit rebounded to £84.9m in the year to January, its latest accounts show, after Al Fayed compensation payouts drove last year’s £34m loss.
NatWest offers farmers repayment holidays as drought hits yields
NatWest is stepping up drought support for farmers, offering repayment holidays and emergency lending as dry conditions hit yields and farm cashflow.
Analysts expect gilt yields to fall before 28 October budget
Gilt yields are forecast to fall before the 28 October budget, analysts say, as investors weigh UK bonds against volatile US and Japanese debt markets.
Raleigh owner Accell Group enters insolvency proceedings
Accell Group, the Dutch owner of Raleigh bikes, has entered insolvency proceedings, with its UK and Ireland arm moving to appoint administrators.
Citigroup chief ‘worried’ by 48% UK bank tax rate
Citigroup chief Jane Fraser warns that UK bank taxes of about 48 per cent, against 27 per cent in New York, could jeopardise investment in London.
Healey draws up plans to borrow extra £9bn a year for asset stakes
John Healey’s £9bn borrowing plan would fund stakes in infrastructure, housing and business through mayors, with analysts weighing the market impact.
Job creation to replace net zero in £90bn public contract scoring
Public procurement changes will score bidders on jobs and skills rather than net zero from January 2027, as ministers double the social value weighting.
More than 120 MPs and peers call for urgent student loan review
Student loan repayment rules face fresh scrutiny as more than 120 MPs and peers urge Chancellor John Healey to order an urgent review of the system.
Non-dom tax take rose 9% to £13.6bn as numbers fell, HMRC says
New HMRC figures show non-dom tax and NICs liabilities rose to £13.6bn in the final year of the regime, even as the number of claimants fell by 1,200.
EY: UK faces recession in 2027 if Strait of Hormuz stays shut
UK recession risk returns to the forecasts as EY models what a closed Strait of Hormuz would do to inflation, growth and interest rates into 2027.
