News And Announcements
UK unemployment rate ticks lower in March despite lockdown
The UK unemployment rate unexpectedly ticked lower in the first quarter despite the national lockdown, according to figures released by the Office for National Statistics on Tuesday.
UK travel industry complains Covid green list too cautious
UK airlines and travel firms complained that the Covid green list of 12 countries available to travel to quarantine free is too cautious.
UK employers struggle to hire staff due to Covid and Brexit fuelled workers exodus
UK employers are struggling to hire staff due to a sharp fall in the number of available EU workers as Covid and Brexit fuel a worker exodus.
UK eases lockdown restrictions despite Indian variant threat
The UK relaxed social and economic restrictions on Monday despite the looming threat of the Indian Covid-19 variant.
Gold rises as inflation fears resurface
The price of gold hit a new three-month high on Monday after worries about US inflation increased and cases of Covid-19 increased in parts of Asia.
High streets lead weekly rise in retail footfall - Springboard
Visits to UK retailers rose slightly last week as shoppers returned to high streets despite the wet weather but made fewer trips to other shopping venues, a survey showed.
UK property asking prices hit record as households head north
UK property asking prices hit a high of more than £333,000 in May as the boom triggered by the response to the pandemic spurred high demand in northern England and Wales, Rightmove said.
China industrial production slows and retail sales disappoint
Chinese industrial production growth slowed as expected in April but retail sales disappointed, suggesting the world's second-biggest recovery faces a bumpier recovery path.
Amazon to create 10,000 UK jobs in wake of online shopping boom
Amazon is creating 10,000 permanent jobs in the UK in response to the boom in online shopping seen during the pandemic.
UK prepares to 'flex' vaccination program to tackle Indian Covid-19 variant
UK vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi said on Friday that the government was gearing up to "flex" its inoculation program in order to tackle the new coronavirus variant first detected in India.
UK house prices rise as supply dwindles - RICS
UK house price growth accelerated in April because of a shortage of homes in a market boosted by the response to the Covid-19 crisis, a survey showed on Thursday.
Business leaders call on G7 to 'seize the moment'
Business organisations from some of the world’s richest economies have called on G7 leaders to collaborate closely as they rebuild the global economy post Covid-19 and tackle the "seismic" challenges that lie ahead.
Savills' trading 'comfortably' better in 2021
Savills said trading so far in 2021 was better than expected and comfortably ahead of a year earlier, helped by the booming UK housing market.
European Commission upgrades growth forecasts
The European Commission upgraded its forecasts for growth on Wednesday, citing fiscal support, progress in the Covid-19 vaccination programme and easing restrictions.
Eurozone industrial production disappoints in March
Industrial production nudged only marginally higher in the Eurozone at the end of the first quarter, coming in well below forecasts, official data showed on Wednesday.
UK economy shrinks 1.5% in Q1 but bounces back in March
The UK economy contracted in the first quarter as Covid restrictions and the third lockdown weighed, but rebounded in March, according to figures released on Wednesday by the Office for National Statistics.
Teenage workers worst hit by unemployment rise during pandemic - ONS
The latest study from the Office of National Statistics revealed that younger people were hit hard by the pandemic, and early in the crisis, employment among 16-24-year-olds fell faster than for any other age group.
Opec reiterates global oil demand forecast for 2021
Opec reiterated its 2021 forecasts for world oil demand on Tuesday, as it nudged its predictions for global economic growth higher.
China's factory gate prices jump
Factory prices continued to push higher in China, rising at their fastest rate since October 2017, official data showed on Tuesday.
German investor sentiment hits best level since 2000 - ZEW
German investor sentiment improved significantly in May as the third wave of coronavirus eased, hitting its best level in more than 20 years, according to the latest survey from the ZEW Center for European Economic Research in Mannheim.