August 2024 economic and business overview
Does the new government necessarily herald a new economic era? There has certainly been a change of tone, even if it seems rather more difficult to detect an actual change of mood as yet.
Strategic Advisory
What does a new Labour government mean for business?
Thursday, July 4, 2024, was not just another Independence Day for the US; it marked the end of one political era and the beginning of what was promised throughout the election campaign to be a very different one. We are still in the very early honeymoon phase of the new regime, but already, the intended shape of future economic policy
July 2024 economic and business overview
More mixed news on the economy amid the chaos of the election campaign As during any election campaign, it’s usually best to avoid all media interpretation of economic statistics amid the swirl of reckless hyperbole and the plethora of highly questionable ‘facts’ being peddled by all political parties in their frantic efforts to win over voters. The savage rebuke issued
June 2024 economic and business overview
Economic signals are still mixed but positive overall With the release of many more positive economic announcements in recent weeks, has the UK economy finally turned a corner as the government and the Bank of England are suggesting, or are we all getting ahead of ourselves? Only time can answer this question, but many, although not all of the signs
UK retail in 2024: What differentiates the successes and failures?
For the overwhelming majority of retailers, the festive season is make or break. Christmas and New Year 2024 may have delivered surprisingly buoyant top-line revenues, given the consumer cost-of-living crisis, but profitability was another matter. The result has been another crop of high-profile failures, including Ted Baker, Matchesfashion, the Body Shop and FarFetch. Retailers account for 9% of all UK
Service sector activity accelerates in April
It’s impossible to overstate the importance of the service sector to the modern UK economy. According to research by the House of Commons Library, it represents 81% of UK economic output and provides 83% of our employment. The service sector includes retail, financial services, public sector activities, business administration, hospitality, leisure and cultural businesses. The S&P Global/CIPS Purchasing Managers’ Index