Finanse

Polish consumers' optimism increased in January, but for the time being this does not translate into shopping plans, according to the ARC Rynek i Opinia Consumer Radar published yesterday. It was reported that the optimism index increased by 11 points compared to December.more

The Government wants to revamp the benefits system to boost employment numbers that have not returned to pre-pandemic levels amid labour shortages.more

Government borrowing hit a new high in December, driven by the cost of supporting households with their energy bills and rising debt interest costs. more

Hundreds of bakers, some wearing aprons and brandishing baguettes, protested on the streets of Paris, warning that the survival of bread and croissant makers is threatened by electricity prices, which have risen sharply in 2023, and the high price of raw materials needed for baking.more

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has asked an independent ethics adviser to investigate alleged tax evasion by Conservative Party leader Nadhim Zahawi by using a company registered in Gibraltar.more

An ambulance chief has issued a plea to help “save the life of a Londoner” by only calling 999 in a “life or limb” threatening emergency during the paramedics’ strike on Monday. more

Up to a million households in England, Scotland and Wales will be paid to use less electricity on Monday evening as part of a scheme to avoid blackouts. National Grid said the scheme, which has only been used in tests so far, would run between 17:00 and 18:00 GMT. more

Entrepreneurs earning money from renting flats will pay almost 29 times more real estate tax than private renters, we can read in "Dziennik Gazeta Prawna".more

Despite the fact that the average salary in December more than exceeded PLN 7,300 gross, in real terms, Polish women and men are getting poorer, as wage growth is not keeping pace with high inflation, commented Confederation Lewiatan's economic expert Mariusz Zielonka on the latest CSO data.more

Freelancers facing "old-fashioned" estate agent checks for rental accommodation are leaving the industry for other work, with union BECTU warning the situation is pushing some to "breaking point".more

Annual energy bills are expected to fall to about £2,200 from July in a fillip for the government and households struggling with ballooning costs.more

In the provincial offices, which report to the Prime Minister, spending and employment have increased dramatically under the Law and Justice government, reports the 'Rzeczpospolita' today.more

As if household budgets were not already under enough pressure, millions of broadband and mobile phone customers look set to face rises of more than 14% in their monthly bills from April.more

In the ranking of minimum wage increases, Poland took 19th place out of 67 surveyed countries, according to a study by the Picodi.com website. The value of basic food products accounts for 14 percent. minimum net salary – added.more

Once January’s strikes have come and gone, more will follow in February. Yep, a number of unions across various industries have announced intentions to take industrial action throughout the second month of 2023. Expect widespread walkouts on February 1 – aka the TUC’s national ‘protect the right to strike’ day – in protest of the government’s draft Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill.more

Sir James Dyson has accused the government of having a "stupid" and "short-sighted" approach to the economy and business in the UK. He said growth had "become a dirty word" during Rishi Sunak's premiership. Writing in the Daily Telegraph, the Dyson founder urged the government to "incentivise private innovation and demonstrate its ambition for growth".more

Routine calls to HM Revenue and Customs will be answered by text, rather than by a human, in a trial aimed at improving its customer service record.more

The current tax system is unfair, benefiting the richest, which exacerbates inequalities and undermines public trust. Taxes for the richest must be increased, said over 200 billionaires and millionaires from 13 countries in an open letter addressed to the participants of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.more

28 per cent of people in the Netherlands are worried that they will not have enough money for food, according to a study by the Dutch Red Cross. At the same time, due to inflation, the number of new trade union members is growing rapidly, reports the daily De Telegraaf.more

Rishi Sunak’s government is said to considering proposals to give over-50s tax breaks for getting back into work after a career break. The Treasury is discussing plans to encourage people to return to Britain’s workforce by offering them tax incentives, according to The Times.more

Price rises in the UK slowed for a second month in a row but the cost of food including milk, cheese and eggs kept inflation at a 40-year high.more

Tens of thousands of nurses in England went on another strike today demanding pay rises. However, UK Health Minister Steve Barclay warned that meeting the demands would mean cuts in spending on medical services for patients.more

Almost one in 10 UK pet owners are considering giving up their companion to cope with cost-of-living pressures, a report says. Almost a fifth of owners (18 per cent) are already falling into debt to pay for their pets’ care, while 25 per cent said they will not take their pet to the vet due to high costs, online pet marketplace Pets4Homes found.more

In 2022, the average annual inflation rate in Germany was 7.9 percent, the German Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) announced.more

Marks & Spencer has said it will create 3,400 jobs across Britain as part of plans to revamp its stores. It plans to open eight "full-line" stores - which stock clothes, food and homeware - in cities such as Liverpool, Birmingham and Leeds in the next year.more