Displaying 1-50 of 125 results
Economic update December 2023: UK economy flatlines but avoids recession
- 01 Dec 2023
- ICAEW Insights
Economic conditions remain challenging despite a dramatic drop in inflation and a positive Autumn Statement. ICAEW’s Economies Director Suren Thiru discusses the implications.
Chart of the week: Exploding debt
- 30 Nov 2023
- ICAEW Insights
Our chart this week takes a look at how UK public debt has exploded since the financial crisis to more than quintuple from £0.6trn in March 2008 to a projected £3.1trn in March 2029.
Cost-of-living crisis fuels charity fraud risks
- 27 Nov 2023
- ICAEW Insights
As Charity Fraud Awareness Week 2023 kicks off, the latest Charity Fraud Report shows that instances of fraud across the sector continue to rise.
Autumn Statement: short-term gain, medium-term loss
- 22 Nov 2023
- ICAEW Insights
The Autumn Statement included several measures that are welcome news for businesses, but the medium-term outlook looks less positive.
National Minimum Wage: the bigger cost of non-compliance
- 14 Nov 2023
- ICAEW Insights
The national minimum wage is likely to go above £11 next April, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt told the Conservative Party conference last month. But many employers are already in breach of the rules, so how should accountants be helping them ensure compliance?
Economic update November 2023: case for interest rate cuts
- 07 Nov 2023
- ICAEW Insights
Falling business confidence and disappointingly weak return to growth is supporting the case for interest rate cuts. ICAEW’s Economies Director Suren Thiru discusses the implications.
Public sector finances: first half year sees £82bn deficit
- 20 Oct 2023
- ICAEW Insights
Public sector net debt increased to just under £2.6trn on 30 September 2023, as the fiscal deficit continues to trend below the Office for Budget Responsibility’s official forecast from March 2023.
Chart of the week: Inflation by month
- 19 Oct 2023
- ICAEW Insights
Our chart this week looks at how September’s inflation rate of 6.7% is made up by month, and why a big drop in the annual rate is predicted next month.
Internal auditors can help boards tackle ‘poly-crisis’
- 17 Oct 2023
- ICAEW Insights
Perfect storm of interlocking risks piles pressure on corporates to ramp up resilience – and internal auditors are key to making that happen, says report.
Helping employees through the cost-of-living crisis
- 13 Oct 2023
- ICAEW Insights
Many employees are struggling with the ongoing cost-of-living situation and the knock-on effects of this at work are cause for concern. How can employers offer their staff practical support?
SMEs must wise up to cyber security risks
- 05 Oct 2023
- ICAEW Insights
Cyber security awareness month: cyber security has dropped down the priority list for small businesses during the cost-of-living crisis, but it would be a mistake to assume that smaller organisations aren’t at risk.
Pay confidence fuels worker optimism amid skills crisis
- 02 Oct 2023
- ICAEW Insights
Surge in UK worker confidence poses inflation challenge during skills shortage, suggesting that the post-pandemic war for talent is far from over yet.
New handbook guides charity treasurers through evolving challenges
- 19 Sep 2023
- ICAEW Insights
The pandemic, Brexit and the cost-of-living crisis are all having a profound impact on the charity sector. A revised edition of the Charity Treasurer’s Handbook offers updated guidance to chart a course through a charity treasurer’s responsibilities.
Resilience and renewal: ICAEW’s in-depth look at the economy
- 19 Sep 2023
- ICAEW Insights
The lives of everyone in the UK are tied to the health of its economy, but it faces serious long-term challenges; a new ICAEW series looks at how we could build a more resilient future.
Is record pay growth a good sign for businesses?
- 12 Sep 2023
- ICAEW Insights
As the latest Office for National Statistics figures reveal a climb in wage growth, especially in the finance and business services sector, ICAEW experts explain what this means for business.
Executive pay rises amid cost-of-living crisis
- 31 Aug 2023
- ICAEW Insights
Average CEO pay is now 118 times that of the average UK worker, compared with 108 times in 2021 and 79 times in 2020.
Tougher economic conditions hamper UK business confidence
- 25 Jul 2023
- ICAEW Insights
UK business confidence remains positive, but below pre-pandemic levels, finds ICAEW survey, as record high inflation and salary growth affect sentiment.
Boards urged to collaborate with internal audit as interest rates rise
- 05 Jul 2023
- ICAEW Insights
The risk level posed by economic uncertainty is seen as high or very high by more than half of all businesses.
Plugging the pensions generation gap
- 23 Jun 2023
- ICAEW Insights
Cost-of-living pressures are ramping up the focus on young people’s low engagement with pensions. What will help to improve the picture, and who should be leading the charge?
Interest rate overcorrection raises recession risk
- 22 Jun 2023
- ICAEW Insights
Surprise 50 basis point hike lifts interest rates to 15-year high as mortgage bills and operating costs continue to spiral.
Rising interest rates cast shadow over public finances
- 21 Jun 2023
- ICAEW Insights
The government may need to borrow more than they bargained for, as tax and other receipts lag behind inflation while public spending races ahead.
Sticky May inflation means damaging interest rate rise inevitable
- 21 Jun 2023
- ICAEW Insights
Official data reveals that UK inflation remained unchanged in May, with rising costs in air travel, goods, and services offsetting falls elsewhere.
Pension woes worsen as interest rates rise
- 19 Jun 2023
- ICAEW Insights
Fourteen years of very low interest rates were bad for pensions. Now rates are rising, but the bond market is collapsing – and it’s worse.
How does high inflation impact savings and pensions?
- 13 Jun 2023
- ICAEW Insights
Inflation is finally starting to come down in the UK, but not as fast as hoped. That isn’t great news for pensions – but neither is it a complete disaster.
Chart of the week: Consumer price inflation
- 01 Jun 2023
- ICAEW Insights
Our chart illustrates how ‘core inflation’, energy price rises, and food, alcohol and tobacco price inflation contributed to a lower than expected fall in the overall rate of inflation in April 2023.
Inflation turns corner and could force interest rate rethink
- 24 May 2023
- ICAEW Insights
Official data reveals that UK inflation moved back into single digits in April, but food inflation remains near record high.
Economic uncertainty amplifies insolvency concerns
- 18 May 2023
- ICAEW Insights
A recent business poll conducted by the Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors has revealed a growing apprehension among chief internal auditors regarding financial, liquidity and insolvency risks.
Chart of the week: Food prices
- 11 May 2023
- ICAEW Insights
An inflation rate of 10.1% in the year to March 2023 conceals a huge variation in individual price rises, as illustrated by this week’s chart on food prices.
How’s the accountancy recruitment market?
- 04 May 2023
- ICAEW Insights
Which skills are most sought after by employers, and how can you make the most of the current marketplace?
Corporate insolvencies soar to highest level in three years
- 02 May 2023
- ICAEW Insights
High borrowing costs and inflation are weighing heavily on businesses, official figures suggest.
Chart of the week: Public finances 2022/23
- 27 Apr 2023
- ICAEW Insights
The public finances continue to be battered by economic shocks as this week’s chart on the past five years of red ink illustrates.
Easing inflation may force interest rate voting split
- 19 Apr 2023
- ICAEW Insights
Official data reveals that UK inflation remains in double digits, despite slowing in March.
Business confidence shows signs of recovery despite concerns
- 19 Apr 2023
- ICAEW Insights
For the first time in a year business confidence in the UK has returned to positive territory, reveals ICAEW quarterly survey, but still remains fragile amid ongoing economic volatility.
Flatlining UK economy continues to flirt with recession
- 13 Apr 2023
- ICAEW Insights
Latest official estimate confirms the UK economy failed to grow in February, as service sector and industrial output fell amid strike action and high inflation.
Hefty executive payouts come under the spotlight
- 05 Apr 2023
- ICAEW Insights
As we await the verdict of the lawsuit challenging a $56bn pay package from Tesla to Elon Musk by aggrieved shareholders of the carmaker, is enormous executive remuneration really necessary – or indeed ethical – in today’s market?
Surprise inflation rise causes interest rate headache
- 22 Mar 2023
- ICAEW Insights
Official data reveals that UK inflation rose for the first time in six months in February amid vegetable shortages, leaving the Bank of England with a tough decision on interest rates.
Public sector finances return to red
- 21 Mar 2023
- ICAEW Insights
February fiscal deficit hits £17bn, while the cumulative deficit for 11 months of £132bn doesn’t include backdated public sector pay awards.
Investors to probe FTSE companies on climate change and diversity
- 20 Mar 2023
- ICAEW Insights
Women and people from minority ethnic groups on boards will be a major focus of the annual general meetings season this year.
Business-positive Budget, with a pensions shake-up
- 16 Mar 2023
- ICAEW Insights
The Chancellor’s focus was fixed on business investment and growth after a better than expected OBR forecast. But much of the funding allocated for this is small fry.
F&A’s role in responding to instability & volatility
- 15 Mar 2023
- BlackLine
Download the new whitepaper based on research by BlackLine and Censuswide.
UK risks losing out in renewables investment race
- 13 Mar 2023
- ICAEW Insights
Policy uncertainty and increased international competition are causing an investment hiatus that will lead to higher bills, increased emissions and continued reliance on fossil fuels, experts warn.
Modest January rebound highlights continued recession risk
- 10 Mar 2023
- ICAEW Insights
Latest official estimate confirms that the UK economy returned to growth in January as the service sector helped lift overall activity, but construction and industrial output fell.
Chart of the week: Slowing inflation
- 16 Feb 2023
- ICAEW Insights
Our chart this week illustrates the slowing rate of inflation and how it should fall further once a big surge in prices between February and April 2022 falls out of the comparison.
Helping charities through the cost-of-living crisis
- 10 Feb 2023
- ICAEW Insights
With recession looming, what should be top of the list of strategic considerations for charity accountants to help to support the sector?
Interest rates rise to 4% but shallower recession predicted
- 02 Feb 2023
- ICAEW Insights
The Bank of England announces 10th successive increase in borrowing costs – but forecasts that the expected UK recession will be shallower and shorter than previously expected.
Accountancy recruitment outlook buoyant as recession beckons
- 31 Jan 2023
- ICAEW Insights
How concerned should professionals be about opportunities and pay in the next 12 months? Two finance recruiters provide a broadly encouraging overview.
UK business confidence crashes to 13-year low
- 26 Jan 2023
- ICAEW Insights
ICAEW’s latest Business Confidence Monitor finds a weakened economy and depleting customer demand have caused confidence to plunge to 2009 global financial crisis levels – leading to calls for the Chancellor to outline his long-term vision for growth.
Cost-of-living crisis to last until end of 2024
- 19 Jan 2023
- ICAEW Insights
Times are expected to get worse before they get better, with far-reaching impacts on financial resilience and health, Resolution Foundation report warns.
Slowing inflation not easing the cost of living crisis
- 18 Jan 2023
- ICAEW Insights
Official data reveals that UK inflation slowed for the second successive month in December as fuel prices continued to fall.
UK interest rates rise to 14-year high
- 15 Dec 2022
- ICAEW Insights
Bank of England hikes interest rates to their highest level since 2008 in an attempt to deal with soaring inflation amid the cost-of-living crisis.
Displaying 1-50 of 125 results
- See all Business news from Insights
- Visit the Insights hub