Finanse

The degree to which EU countries are getting money from the €800 billion Recovery Fund varies. There are countries that have received most of their pot like Italy, which has received more than €100 billion in grants and loans. Sweden, Ireland and the Netherlands, on the other hand, have not yet received a single euro.more

Inflation has fallen to its lowest level in two-and-a-half years, driven largely by slowing food price rises. Prices rose by 3.2% in the year to March, down from 3.4% the month before, according to official figures.more

Smart meters and other energy appliances such as heat pumps will be equipped with a surge pricing function under plans being put forward by ministers. The proposals under consultation by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) would require a string of devices to be “smart” by default, allowing them to take advantage of so-called time of use tariffs.more

Major banks including NatWest, Lloyds, and Halifax have announced the closure of more than 100 branches in the last few weeks.more

The UK economy grew slightly in February increasing hopes it is on its way out of recession. The economy grew by 0.1%, official figures show, boosted by production and manufacturing in areas such as the car industry. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said that construction was dampened by wet weather though.more

The Education Policy Institute (EPI) think tank has warned that schools could lose over £1 billion in funding by 2030 because of falling pupil numbers.more

From today (11 April), higher minimum earnings levels apply in the UK to apply for a work visa and to bring family members into the country. This also applies to citizens of European Union countries.more

Almost £54 million from the UK benefits system was defrauded by five Bulgarian nationals over four and a half years. According to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), this is the biggest case of its kind ever to come to court in the UK.more

Tesco has said price pressures on grocers have eased as it reported bumper sales and profits for the past year. The UK's biggest supermarket chain said pre-tax profits hit £2.3bn, up from £882m, while sales rose by 4.4% to £68.2bn in the year to 24 February.more

About 15 Ted Baker stores in the UK will be shut down, including shops in London Bridge and Milton Keynes, leading to nearly 250 job losses, joint administrators of the collapsed British fashion retailer said on Monday.more

Poles' assessments of the material situation of their households have improved; 52 per cent say they live at an average level, according to a CBOS survey published yesterday. A modest life was indicated by 14 per cent of respondents, while 1 per cent said they were living very poorly.more

Starting salaries for permanent staff grew at the slowest rate in over three years last month and spending on temporary workers fell by the most since July 2020, recruiters said on Monday, adding to signs of a slowdown in Britain's job market.more

Thousands of pests including rats, cockroaches and bedbugs have been found at NHS hospitals in England as the health service buckles under a record high repair bill.more

One in four Londoners (24 per cent) aren’t confident in their ability to meet mortgage and rental payments, reports Barclays. Across the UK, one in six people share the same fears. Homeowners and tenants are cutting back to try and make ends meet, with 22 per cent making cost-saving decisions to keep up with rising housing costs.more

Rent rises in Britain are forecast to outpace wage growth, despite having already surged at the fastest pace on record after the Covid pandemic and the cost of living crisis.more

Workers will see their National Insurance (NI) payments cut from Saturday but frozen thresholds mean many are paying more in income tax. The NI rate is falling from 10% to 8% for 27 million employees across the UK - the second such cut this year. It is worth about £450 a year to an employee on an average salary of £35,000.more

House prices fell in March for the first time in six months, according to the latest data from Halifax. The lender said prices dropped by 1% last month, with higher mortgage rates affecting affordability for prospective buyers.more

British Gas customers who wrongly argue their smart meter is faulty could be at risk of a penalty charge. Customers who request an engineer callout over concerns their bills could be incorrect face a £175 bill if no fault is found, The Telegraph understands. If an error is identified, the meter will be replaced free of charge.more

The owner of Royal Mail has asked the industry regulator to let it reduce deliveries of second-class letters to just two or three days a week, cutting nearly 1,000 jobs and saving £300m a year in the process.more

Forbes magazine has announced a new list of billionaires. There are as many as 2 781 positions on it, 141 more than last year, the CBS television portal highlighted. Among those whose wealth is estimated to be at least one billion dollars, there are eight Poles, of whom the richest ranks 398th and the least wealthy 1 945th.more

The Ivory Coast, which is the world's largest producer of cocoa beans, will raise the price of cocoa beans by 50 per cent from today, from 1 000 to 1 500 CFA francs (from US$1.65 to US$2.47) per kilogram, the Abidjan portal reported yesterday, citing sources in export companies.more

The minimum wage set by the government, known as the National Living Wage, is increasing by more than £1 for the first time, providing a boost for 2.7 million low-paid workers. The main wage rate is rising from £10.42 to £11.44 an hour and will apply to workers over 21 rather than over 23.more

The average household energy bill is to fall to its lowest point in two years from next month after Ofgem lowered its price cap in response to wholesale prices. In some long-awaited good news for energy customers, the regulator is dropping its price cap by 12.3% from the current £1,928 for a typical dual fuel household in England, Scotland and Wales to £1,690.more

Average prices of flats on the secondary market have increased between 19 and 41 per cent in individual cities. Compared to 2021, the availability of flats has worsened, according to the Metrohouse and Credipass Barometer report published on Wednesday.more

The minimum wage has driven up the pay of millions of Britain’s lowest earners by £6,000 a year, making it the single most successful economic policy in a generation, according to a leading thinktank.more