56 h. ago Rising unemployment hitting shopper confidence, says JD Sports

The retailer said clothing sales in September were also impacted by unusually warm weather.

Events

3 d. ago I can’t remember ever being so confident at the start of an away Ashes series | Mark Ramprakash

Australia have big injuries and concerns over their top order: if England start well in Perth they can win back the AshesIt’s the Ashes in Australia and that is a series England have become used to losing, so much so that even Jimmy Anderson, the greatest English Test wicket‑taker of all time, has the home side as favourites. But if Australia have ever been there for the taking, it is now. Looking at how the two sides are shaping up before the opening game I feel punchy about England’s chances: the team are strong, settled, and I think that if Ben Stokes plays all five Tests they will win the Ashes and win them comfortably. I can’t remember ever being so confident before an away Ashes.That confidence is based on a strong group of seamers and a top seven that have now played a lot of Test cricket and have a lot of runs under their belt. They will look at an opposition that will be without the injured Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood in Perth and fancy their chances of racking up runs. ...

Politics

1 week ago ALEX BRUMMER: Despite the economic gloom, there ARE signs of recovery. But I fear Rachel Reeves is about to spray weedkiller all over the green shoots

Just when you thought things couldn't get any worse, now the Office for National Statistics has reported that the unemployment rate has risen to 5 per cent, the highest for four years.

Events

1 week ago Unemployment in Wales sees big rise and is now the highest of any UK nation

Unemployment in Wales has increased to 5.7% shows new figures from the ONS

Politics

1 week ago UK unemployment rises to 5%, the highest level in four years

ONS says jobs market worsening before budget, as HMRC reports falling number of workers on firms’ payrollsBusiness live – latest updatesUnemployment in the UK has risen by more than expected to the highest level in four years, official figures show, amid a worsening slowdown in the jobs market before Rachel Reeves’s autumn budget.With under three weeks to go before the chancellor’s tax and spending statement, figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show the headline unemployment rate rose to 5.0% in the three months to the end of September, up from 4.8% in the previous quarter. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago 'Vote of confidence' Man City could host England game in Euro 2028 package

Manchester City's stadium will host multiple games in Euro 2028, which could include the England team

Politics

3 w. ago Brendon McCullum confident England can throw off batting blues for Ashes

Smith, Duckett and Root all fail again in New Zealand loss‘In Tests we have a pretty decent idea of where we’re at’Brendon McCullum has predicted England’s batters will have no trouble shaking off the woes that have dogged their white-ball tour of New Zealand in time for the AshesTheir top order crumbled yet again on the way to a third successive defeat in Wellington on Saturday and several key members of the Test squad, including Jamie Smith, Ben Duckett and Joe Root, have struggled badly in recent one-day internationals. But the team’s head coach believes their troubles are limited to the 50-over format.“It’s a different form of the game and it’s a completely different kind of challenge that we’re going to be confronted with,” he said. “Sometimes the process you go through in regards to batting doesn’t necessarily translate to runs, but the game can come in time. That’s what we’re holding on to, anyway. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Templegate’s Breeders’ Cup day two tips for Del Mar include this awesome 84

TEMPLEGATE tackles the star-studded action on day two of the Breeders' Cup from Del Mar confident of finding some winners on US soil. Sky Sports Racing will show all the action while ITV4 will broadcast three races - the Distaff, Turf and Classic - live from 8.45pm. Templegate's Breeders' Cup day two picks 7.00 Filly...

Politics

3 w. ago Rangers belief surges into overdrive as Connor Barron ‘massively confident’ of beating Celtic

The Ibrox side have a new-found belief after winning two Premiership games on the bounce under boss Danny Rohl

Politics

3 w. ago ‘I’m making it work’: Lando Norris confident he is finally getting to grips with his McLaren

British driver leads championship by one pointStella: ‘We have proven we have a car that can win races’Lando Norris has said he is finally confident handling his McLaren car after a dominant victory at the Mexico City Grand Prix that moved him to the top of the world championship standings with four races remaining.The British driver won at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez with a superb drive from pole to flag. With his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri finishing only fifth and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen in third, the Briton now leads Piastri by one point and Verstappen by 36. Piastri had held the title lead since the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix but Norris has moved to the front as the championship enters its final run-in. Continue reading...

Politics

last month UK manufacturers hit by largest drop in orders since 2020; FTSE 100 hits record high – business live

Shares in oil companies jump after US sanctions Russian energy firms, while manufacturers see weak prospects aheadYesterday’s weaker-than-expected UK inflation report has sparked chat that the Bank of England could cut interest rates sooner than expected.Deutsche Bank say there is now an “interesting debate” on whether there may be enough ammunition for the Bank’s monetary policy committee to cut borrowing costs as soon as its next meeting in early November.What’s the case for November? Relative to the Bank’s projections, growth has surprised to the downside, private sector AWE growth has surprised to the downside, unemployment has risen in line with Bank expectations, and inflation now sits a healthy amount below the Bank’s projections. Indeed, one could make the argument that the ingredients for a November rate cut are there.So, why not November? We think three things will be important for the MPC to see before dialling down restrictive policy again. One, the MPC may want to see s...

Economics

last month UK manufacturers hit by largest drop in orders since 2020; FTSE 100 hits fresh record high – business live

Shares in oil companies jump after US sanctions Russian energy firms, while manufacturers see weak prospects aheadYesterday’s weaker-than-expected UK inflation report has sparked chat that the Bank of England could cut interest rates sooner than expected.Deutsche Bank say there is now an “interesting debate” on whether there may be enough ammunition for the Bank’s monetary policy committee to cut borrowing costs as soon as its next meeting in early November.What’s the case for November? Relative to the Bank’s projections, growth has surprised to the downside, private sector AWE growth has surprised to the downside, unemployment has risen in line with Bank expectations, and inflation now sits a healthy amount below the Bank’s projections. Indeed, one could make the argument that the ingredients for a November rate cut are there.So, why not November? We think three things will be important for the MPC to see before dialling down restrictive policy again. One, the MPC may want to see s...

Economics

last month UK manufacturers hit by largest drop in orders since 2020; Oil price jumps after Rosneft and Lukoil sanctioned – business live

British manufacturers see the weakest prospects for orders since Covid-19 pandemic, CBI reports, after demand weakened in last three monthsYesterday’s weaker-than-expected UK inflation report has sparked chat that the Bank of England could cut interest rates sooner than expected.Deutsche Bank say there is now an “interesting debate” on whether there may be enough ammunition for the Bank’s monetary policy committee to cut borrowing costs as soon as its next meeting in early November.What’s the case for November? Relative to the Bank’s projections, growth has surprised to the downside, private sector AWE growth has surprised to the downside, unemployment has risen in line with Bank expectations, and inflation now sits a healthy amount below the Bank’s projections. Indeed, one could make the argument that the ingredients for a November rate cut are there.So, why not November? We think three things will be important for the MPC to see before dialling down restrictive policy again. One, ...

Economics