Stamp duty changes boost property demand

Nationwide reported a slowdown in UK house price growth in October, with annual growth slipping to 2.4% compared to 3.2% in September. This marks a cooling in the market after recent highs, though October’s rate remains the third strongest since late 2022. The average...

National living wage to increase by 6.7%

Millions of low-paid workers are set to benefit from a significant wage boost. Starting in April 2025, the national living wage (NLW) will rise by an inflation-beating 6.7%, equating to an extra £1,400 annually for full-time workers over 20. The new daily rate will be...

60% office attendance reinstated for civil servants

In a recent directive, the Cabinet Office reinforced a policy requiring civil servants to spend at least 60% of their working hours in Government buildings or attending business-related meetings. Department heads have been urged to enforce this rule, and senior...

UK pay growth falls below 5%

For the first time in over two years, employee earnings growth in Great Britain has fallen below 5%, narrowing the gap between wages and inflation. This development increases the likelihood of further interest rate cuts by the Bank of England (BoE) Slowing wage growth...

UK GDP growth lags behind population boom

A recent report by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has revealed that the UK’s real gross domestic product (GDP) per head remains 0.6% below pre-pandemic levels as of mid-2024, despite a 2.9% growth in total GDP since 2022. The gap between population growth...