Weekly Digest – 17 August 2022
Welcome back to our Weekly Digest. Read on for the latest updates and some ideas to help us all move forward.
Interesting ideas on the table to curb heating costs
With energy bills soaring, the parties hoping to put a PM in office are proposing some radically different ideas to help us keep the heat on this winter. The Financial Times has created a summary of the ideas which can be found here.
Global oil prices drop as Chinese economy shows signs of slowing down
Concerns over weaker growth in the Chinese economy caused by repeated Covid lockdowns and a downturn in the property sector have caused oil prices to drop to their lowest levels since the invasion of Ukraine.
High energy bills threaten beloved businesses
With energy bills continuing to climb, many fear the cost will be too great for hundreds of local pubs and restaurants to bear.
Workers are staying home more often than going into the office
A new survey shows that many more people are going into the office at least some of the time, as opposed to never, as was the case at the height of the pandemic. However, average office attendance is now only 1.5 days per week.
Four-day work week pilot in jeopardy
While some employers participating in the large-scale pilot project have reported benefits, many are saying that they aren’t sure they’ll continue with the scheme in December once the experiment ends.
Schools in crisis talks to try to plan for upcoming school year
With teachers set for a pay rise in the fall and skyrocketing energy costs, school governors across the country are meeting to try to come up with the least disruptive plan to successfully run school this year.
Relief potentially coming to reduce broadband and phone bills
This week, ministers are set to launch a new scheme which would see struggling Brits get their broadband and phone bills slashed. It would allow internet companies the ability to see if their customers are entitled to cheaper deals.
Overall service quality revealed in bank survey
A new survey has revealed the best and worst banks in the UK, with challenger banks beating out high street for the most part.
50-year mortgage term plan approved
New mortgage lender Perenna has been granted a licence by UK financial regulators to offer mortgages with fixed rates of up to 50 years. The move is aimed at helping borrowers manage soaring inflation.
Import taxes to be cut on goods coming from poor countries
The UK will cut import taxes on hundreds more products from some of the world’s poorest countries to boost trade links under the Developing Countries Trading Scheme. Starting in January, the new rule builds on a scheme the UK was first part of while a member of the European Union.
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