Reuters UK Domestic

By Suban Abdulla LONDON (Reuters) – British consumers have turned more optimistic about the outlook for the economy and their personal finances this month but their mood remains a long way off pre-COVID levels, market research firm GfK said on Friday. Despite lingering cost-of-living pressures, GfK’s headline consumer confidence index was stronger than anticipated in …

UK consumer confidence jumps despite lingering inflation pain Read More »

LONDON (Reuters) – Lloyd’s of London said it has launched a consultation amongst member firms on how to insure the low-carbon transition over the next three years across underwriting, investments, exposure management and capital and reserving. The insurance market said that on underwriting, it expects managing agents to provide sustainability strategies that are “fit for …

Lloyd’s of London consults members on net-zero approach Read More »

By Richa Naidu and Helen Reid LONDON (Reuters) – As Black Friday kicks off the holiday shopping season, retailers and manufacturers anticipate a growing number of British consumers will be hunting for refurbished and pre-owned bargains to save cash and shop more sustainably. As persistent inflation and high mortgage rates dent shoppers’ ability to spend, …

Analysis-Britain’s Black Friday shoppers go second-hand in hunt for value Read More »

By William Schomberg and David Milliken LONDON (Reuters) -British voters are set to suffer a “living standards disaster” as they face an unprecedented fall in household incomes between one national election and the next, even taking Jeremy Hunt’s new tax cut plan into account, a think tank said on Thursday. Finance minister Hunt offered a …

UK voters face ‘living standards disaster’, think tank says Read More »

By Kate Holton, Alistair Smout and William Schomberg LONDON (Reuters) – Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has chosen Hampton Court, a 16th-century palace renowned for its maze, to host a summit at which he will attempt to win back favour among investors who have been left disoriented by twists and turns in British policy. As Britain …

Analysis-Sunak bids to lead wary investors through British maze Read More »

By Sarah Young LONDON (Reuters) – Annual net migration to the United Kingdom hit a record of 745,000 last year and has stayed at elevated levels since, data showed on Thursday, heaping pressure on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to act to reduce it in the run up to an election. High levels of legal migration …

UK net migration hit new record high in 2022 in latest blow for Sunak Read More »

By Joice Alves LONDON (Reuters) – Sterling on Thursday rose to its highest against the dollar since early September after data showed British companies returned to growth in November, fuelling hopes Britain will avoid a recession. A day after finance minister Jeremy Hunt delivered a budget update, the S&P Global/CIPS UK Composite Purchasing Managers’ Index …

Sterling rises to highest since early Sept on PMI beat Read More »

By Suban Abdulla LONDON (Reuters) -British companies reported a marginal return to growth in November after three months of contraction but the downturn in orders continued in the face of higher interest rates and weak demand, a survey showed on Thursday. A day after finance minister Jeremy Hunt announced measures to boost the country’s weak …

UK businesses grow for first time in three months, but high rates weigh Read More »

By Susanna Twidale LONDON (Reuters) -Most British households will face higher energy bills from January after regulator Ofgem increased its price cap by 5% to reflect a rise in wholesale energy prices. The increase comes as many Britons contend with a cost of living squeeze and the government continues to grapple inflation. Though inflation slowed …

Britons face higher energy bills after Ofgem raises price cap Read More »