Author Archives: Editor

                 Inflation has fallen to 2.6% as supermarket price wars, cheaper fuel and summer clothing sales ease the pressure on household budgets. But with energy bills poised to rise and Middle East conflict threatening another surge in oil prices, families and small businesses should hold the champagne: the cost-of-living crisis is far from over.Continue reading “Burnham’s early moves help, but so far they’re a miniscule drop in a very large ocean and the cost‑of‑living fight is far from over.”

                 Britain’s jobs market is flashing red as vacancies plunge to 712,000, unemployment remains stuck at 4.9% and private-sector pay growth weakens. With employers freezing recruitment and small firms trapped in survival mode, Andy Burnham faces an early test of his promise to revive growth and living standards. JOB VACANCIES SLUMP TO FIVE‑YEAR LOWContinue reading “Job vacancies crash to five-year low as bosses freeze hiring”

                 For hundreds of small suppliers, TG Jones’ restructuring plan is more than a corporate rescue—it’s a potential cashflow crisis. The retailer formerly known as WH Smith is asking creditors to accept deep losses, delayed repayments and uncertain promises of future returns as it fights for survival. While the plan is designed to keepContinue reading “TG Jones rescue leaves small suppliers counting the cost”

                 Imagine arriving at work to discover your business bank account has been closed. You try another bank, then another, only to be rejected every time because you’re carrying an unseen flag on a shared industry database. For thousands of small and micro businesses, that nightmare could become reality if banks press ahead withContinue reading “Debanked for life? Small firms fear banking blacklist nightmare”

                 Going self-employed offers freedom, flexibility and the chance to be your own boss, but experts warn it also comes with a hidden danger that millions are ignoring. New research shows that most workers stop saving into a pension as soon as they leave employment, with only one in five self-employed people now contributingContinue reading “Self-employed sleepwalking into retirement crisis”