November 2008 Archive

Shopping for Christmas: Making savings and finding bargains

Christmas shopping bargains are getting easy to find

This Christmas money will be tight for many, but there are ways to make ends meet without scrimping on Yuletide quality.

High street sales fall faster than expected

Retail sales fell faster than expected in November despite heavy discounting.

Consumer confidence improves in November

Consumer confidence improved slightly in November despite economic gloom, a survey shows.

Football and rugby clubs pass on VAT cut

Football and rugby clubs have begun cutting their prices following the drop in VAT rates.

Earnings rose above inflation

Average earnings rose faster than inflation over last five years

Over the last five years average earnings have risen by a fifth, faster than the rise in retail prices.

Shoppers could spend £93m just getting to shops

Shoppers are planning to cut their spending by £300 million this Christmas but could waste over £93 million in getting to the shops.

Asda gets aggressive in price cutting war

Asda is today launching its "most aggressive" price cutting campaign ever, which includes selling TVs and DVD players free of VAT.

Darling 'mulled 1% VAT hike'

Alistair Darling contemplated increasing VAT to 18.5 per cent for his pre-Budget report.

Visa online shopping card launched

A new internet shopping card, which can be used to pay for goods on any website accepting Visa, has been unveiled.

Will VAT cut boost shopper numbers?

Shoppign baskets not much lighter due to Darling's VAT cut

Alistair Darling yesterday announced a cut of 2.5 per cent in VAT putting it at 15 per cent.

Will you be better off from the pre-Budget report?

Pre-Budget report leaves hole in UK's pocket

Alistair Darling's pre-Budget report saw rises in National Insurance contributions, increases in personal tax allowances for some, the loss of personal tax allowances for others and the headline grabbing VAT cut - but will you be better off?

Pre-Budget 2008: VAT cut as high-earner tax introduced

Chancellor Alistair Darling has announced a 2.5 percentage point cut in VAT as a new tax rate for high earners is introduced in a landmark Pre-Budget Report.

Pre-Budget Report 2008: As It Happens

Darling sets forward the pre-Budget report

Alistair Darling's make or break pre-Budget report as it happens - all the details on all the tax cuts, spending and tax increases

Darling to bring VAT cuts, tax hike for high earners

Pre-Budget Report ready to rock Westminster

Alistair Darling's pre-Budget report is set to provide a cut in VAT to 15 per cent, a rise in tax for high earners and compensation for those left worse off by the abolition of the 10p tax rate.

Pre-Budget report set to bring tax cuts

Alistair Darling is expected to present the pre-Budget report to Parliament today

Chancellor Alistair Darling is set to release the government's pre-Budget report today with many anticipating tax cuts to prop up the ailing economy.

Pre-Budget 2008: Fuel duty increase to offset VAT cut

Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling has announced that a fuel duty increase will offset the VAT cut to 15 per cent.

Pre-Budget 2008: Govt to retain renewable obligation

Chancellor Alistair Darling has announced today that the government will retain its Renewable Obligation by at least ten years in his Pre-Budget report today.

'VAT cut to 15%' part of 'co-ordinated' rescue package

The government is set to cut the rate of Value Added Tax by up to 2.5 per cent in Monday's pre-budget report, according to media reports.

All eyes on darling and pre-Budget report - 21/11/2008 21:36:29

And all eyes over the weekend will be trained on the Treasury.

What are your consumer rights this Christmas? Quiz

Shopping for Christmas? make sure you know your rights

Knowing your consumer rights could the difference between a Merry Christmas and a Blue Yule.

Lone parents return to work plans under fire

A senior government advisor has hit out at plans to force single parents back into work once their youngest children hit 12.

John Lewis sales plunge

John Lewis sales plunged 14 per cent last week, its worst performance this year.

What is in Darling's pre-Budget report box?

Westminster awaits Darling's decisive pre-Budget report

Alistair Darling will on Monday afternoon present a pre-Budget report in which the government will lay down what it intends to do to help the UK out of recession.