66 h. ago US consumer confidence hit by tariff fears; Thames Water’s finance chief leaving within days – business live

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial newsOver in Germany, the number of people out of work has risen at the fastest rate since October of 2024.The German labour office said the number of unemployed increased by 26,000 in seasonally adjusted terms to 2.92 million. Analysts polled by Reuters had expected that figure to rise by 10,000.“March marks the start of the so-called spring recovery on the labour market. This year, however, the economic slump is noticeably slowing it down.”One bright spot was the impressive 1.9% q/q (CE forecast 0.7% q/q) rise in consumers’ real incomes in Q4. The 4.2% rise in 2024 as a whole suggests households experienced the strongest real income growth in nine years.With consumer spending hardly rising, at 12.0% in Q4 (up from 10.3% in Q3), the saving rate remains unusually high, suggesting households are choosing to save rather than spend the bulk of those gains. Continue reading...

Economics

67 h. ago Tariff uncertainty risks ‘significant economic damage’; Thames Water’s finance chief leaving within days – business live

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial newsOver in Germany, the number of people out of work has risen at the fastest rate since October of 2024.The German labour office said the number of unemployed increased by 26,000 in seasonally adjusted terms to 2.92 million. Analysts polled by Reuters had expected that figure to rise by 10,000.“March marks the start of the so-called spring recovery on the labour market. This year, however, the economic slump is noticeably slowing it down.”One bright spot was the impressive 1.9% q/q (CE forecast 0.7% q/q) rise in consumers’ real incomes in Q4. The 4.2% rise in 2024 as a whole suggests households experienced the strongest real income growth in nine years.With consumer spending hardly rising, at 12.0% in Q4 (up from 10.3% in Q3), the saving rate remains unusually high, suggesting households are choosing to save rather than spend the bulk of those gains. Continue reading...

Economics

68 h. ago Thames Water’s finance chief quits as firm continues trying to find a buyer

Alastair Cochran, Thames Water’s chief financial officer, told the firm that he is stepping down on Friday morning, PA news agency understands.

Economics

68 h. ago Thames Water's finance chief departs at crucial stage of survival battle

Alastair Cochran steps down next week after more than three years with the utility

Events

1 week ago Is YOUR water bill soaring 61% next month? Shocked customers expose Thames Water to financial guru JEFF PRESTRIDGE

Thames Water customers are having to endure Court battles, protests at the company's HQ, and most troubling of all a big increase in their bills.

Economics

1 week ago Thames Water secures £3billion lifeline to stave off financial collapse after court battle over it's restructuring plans

Appeal court judges dismissed a plea from environmental campaigners and a small group of Thames creditors to throw out the restructure plan.

Economics

1 week ago Thames Water's "Class B" creditors consider Supreme Court appeal after losing restructuring challenge

The bondholders say they need to see the wording of the Court of Appeal dismissal before making a decision that could prolong legal wrangling

Events

1 week ago Thames Water's £3 billion restructuring challenge dismissed by Court of Appeal

The decision means Britain’s biggest water company can fight on for another year rather than run out of cash later this month

Economics