Cheshire East Council has agreed a budget for the 2024/25 financial year, which will focus funds on providing support where it will make the most difference. The budget was agreed on Tuesday 27 February at a meeting of full council, and outlines £30 million in savings across council services to … [Read more...]
News for: General Business
Food prices fall for first time in two years, reveals ONS inflation data
The Consumer Price Index (CPI), the Office of National Statistics’ (ONS) headline rate of inflation, has held at 4% in January, despite forecasts predicting a small rise. A small rise in inflation in January had been expected as a result of the increase in Ofgem’s energy price cap pushing up … [Read more...]
Cheshire East Council to outline 2024/25 spending plans
Cheshire East Council is to set out financial plans for 2024/25 with councillors to vote on the draft budget at the meeting of full council on 27 February. A council tax rise of 4.99% and a number of changes to services are proposed to balance the books for 2024/25. Increased demand and costs for … [Read more...]
3.8 million Self Assessment returns still to be filed a week before deadline
With just one week to go before the 31st January Self Assessment deadline, HMRC estimates that 3.8 million are risking a £100 penalty if they do not file their tax return in time. HMRC is anticipating more than 12.1 million Self Assessment tax returns to be filed for the 2022-23 tax year, along … [Read more...]
Inflation rose to 4% in December 2023
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose slightly in December 2023 to 4%, the Office of National Statistics (ONS) has found. The slight increase, up from 3.9% in November last year, is the first uplift in the rate of inflation seen since February of the same year. Among the main contributors to the … [Read more...]
CPI falls to lowest rate in two years
The Office of National Statistics' (ONS) headline measure of inflation, the Consumer Price Index (CPI), fell to 3.9% in November, its lowest rate since 2021. The latest fall brings inflation down further from 4.6% in October. Driving the slowdown in price rises was a number of staple food and … [Read more...]
Cheshire East Council set to appoint new Chief Executive
Cheshire East Council has named Rob Polkinghorne as its preferred candidate for Chief Executive, with the final decision to be made at an upcoming full council meeting on 13th December. The council’s appointments committee is due to recommend Mr Polkinghorne as the preferred candidate in a report … [Read more...]
Chancellor sets out Autumn Statement
Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt, has set out his plans for the economy in his Autumn Statement, presented to the House of Commons on Wednesday 22nd November. Addressing the House of Commons, the Chancellor outlined proposals to grow the economy through boosts to productivity, and to … [Read more...]
National Living Wage to rise to £11.44 in April 2024
The National Living Wage will rise by 9.8% in April 2024 to £11.44 per hour for workers aged 21 and over, up from its current level of £10.42. The uplift will be the largest single increase in the statutory minimum rate of pay since its inception. Following the publication of the Low Pay … [Read more...]
October saw inflation fall to 4.6%
The rate of inflation has fallen to less than half the rate seen at the start of 2023 according to the the Office of National Statistics' (ONS) headline measure of inflation, the Consumer Price Index (CPI). The latest CPI data shows inflation having fallen 2.1 percentage points to 4.6%, down from … [Read more...]
One in five SME owners planning to sell by 2025, finds Handelsbanken study
A study conducted for Handelsbanken Wealth & Asset Management has found that one in five SME business owners plan to sell all or part of their business within the next two years. The survey also found a further 11% will seek to downsize during the same period. Of those considering sale or … [Read more...]
Bank of England keeps interest rates at 5.25%
The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee met on 21st September and opted to hold interest rates at 5.25% following a surprise fall in inflation. Economists at the bank voted 5-4 in favour of holding the rate at 5.25%, with those opposing the decision calling for a 0.25 percentage point … [Read more...]