News

Britons turned to their credit cards at the fastest pace in almost two years in the run-up to Christmas and November’s Budget, even as signs emerged that households were becoming more cautious elsewhere. Data from the Bank of England shows that outstanding credit card balances rose to nearly £78bn in November, up 12.1 per cent on the same month last year. It marked the sharpest annual increase since early 2024 and underlined the pressure many...

Nearly a quarter of British workers say their job is actively making them unhappy, with one in ten planning to resign this month, according to new research that will intensify concerns about productivity, retention and morale across the UK workforce. The survey, conducted by international education group ACS, found that 9 per cent of employees expect to hand in their notice in January alone, with more than a third of those planning to quit intending...

The West End’s post-pandemic revival has delivered a multimillion-pound boost to one of Britain’s biggest theatre groups, with the return of Oliver! helping Sir Cameron Mackintosh’s company rebound to, and surpass, pre-Covid trading levels. Cameron Mackintosh Limited reported an 18 per cent jump in revenues to £234 million last year, overtaking its 2019 performance as audiences returned in force and demand for major productions recovered. The strong financial year paved the way for a £10.2...

I’ve been fortunate enough to walk the cavernous halls of a fair few of the world’s biggest trade shows in Las Vegas, they  promised, and delivered, staggering innovation and energy. Days of relentless discovery: robots pouring cappuccinos, AI so intuitive it seemed clairvoyant, and founders who spoke about change not as a cliché but as a lived reality. These were not just exhibitions; they were global marketplaces for ideas, capital and partnerships. Yet back home,...

The head of the world’s largest technology trade show has accused the UK government of failing to properly support British businesses on the global stage, warning that the country is falling behind its European peers when it comes to showcasing innovation. Gary Shapiro, chief executive of the Consumer Technology Association, which organises CES in Las Vegas, said Britain’s presence at the event remains inconsistent and underwhelming compared with nations such as France and the Netherlands....

Business confidence showed a modest improvement in December, but employers continue to rein in hiring and delay investment amid ongoing cost pressures and regulatory uncertainty, according to new data from the Institute of Directors. The IoD’s Directors’ Economic Confidence Index, which tracks business leader optimism about the wider UK economy, rose to -66 in December, up from -73 in November, which had been measured immediately before the Budget. However, confidence in respondents’ own organisations remained...