UK inflation hits more than three-year low, raising pressure on Bank of England
UK inflation sank unexpectedly to a more than three-year low in December as hotels slashed prices, ramping up expectations that the Bank of England will cut interest rates as soon as this month. Consumer prices rose by 1.3% in annual terms compared with 1.5% in November, the smallest increase since November 2016, the Office for […]
UK consumers banned from using credit cards to gamble
Gamblers in the UK will no longer be able to use their credit cards to place bets online after a major shake-up of rules announced by the industry regulator. From 14 April, people wanting to place bets online will have to do so by using either a debit card or through cash deposited into an […]
China trade surplus with US dropped 8.5% to $296 billion
China’s trade surplus with the US narrowed last year as the world’s two biggest economies exchanged punitive tariffs in a bruising trade war, new data show today. The figures come as the two countries prepare to sign a deal dialling down tensions. The huge difference in trade traffic is a key bone of contention […]
Used car sales reach highest ever level in 2019 – CSO
New figures from the Central Statistics Office show the number of new cars licensed for the first time fell by 6.5% in 2019, while the number of used car sales rose by 9.5% to reach its highest ever level. The CSO said that a total of 113,305 new private cars were licensed for the first […]
USC threshold increasing due to rise in minimum wage
The threshold for USC is to be raised to allow for a previously announced increase in the minimum wage. This will benefit all taxpayers as well as ensuring those on the minimum wage will continue to pay USC at a maximum rate of 2%. Last month the government announced it had decided to raise the minimum […]