Business

Good news has been in such rare supply in economics recently that it’s worth dwelling on it when it arrives. This morning, on Friday 13th of all days, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) announced that the economy had grown by 0.1% in November. This is hardly especially strong gross domestic product growth, but it’s

The economy grew by 0.1% in November, partly aided by the football World Cup, according to official figures which call into question predictions the UK is already in recession. Data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed pressure on demand from the effects of high inflation, but a boost from people packing pubs and

The RMT union has announced it is working with train operators “towards a revised offer” following more talks to end strike action. After today’s negotiations with the Rail Delivery Group (RDG), the RMT said: “We have had detailed discussions and we are working jointly towards a revised offer. “Both parties have agreed to continue discussions

Liberty Steel UK has placed 440 jobs under threat through a series of actions to secure its future amid “unviable” market conditions. The company said high energy costs had combined with other uncompetitive factors such as cheap imports and it was vital its operations were “refocused”. Liberty, part of Sanjeev Gupta’s GFG Alliance, said its

The Transport Select Committee heard from two sides in the national rail dispute, but the most important voice – the third rail – was not even in the room. Mick Whelan, of drivers’ unions Aslef, put the chances of resolution at zero (on a scale of one to 10) while Mick Lynch, of the RMT,

Sainsbury’s has become the latest retailer to post strong Christmas sales figures, saying it achieved a “record” festive season. The UK’s second largest supermarket group, which also includes Argos, said it now expected annual profits for the year to March towards the upper end of its previously guided range between £630m and £690m. Underlying pre-tax

Up to 3,200 jobs are to go at Goldman Sachs as part of the biggest restructuring efforts at the company since the global financial crash. The US-based multinational financial services company and investment bank is embarking on a series of cost-saving measures after the deal making and market boom of the COVID-19 pandemic dried up

Nearly half of Byron’s restaurants are to close in the burger chain’s latest brush with insolvency. Sky News has learnt that close to ten of its 21 remaining sites will shut their doors permanently as part of a pre-pack administration engineered by Calveton, its owner. A deal could be struck with administrators at Interpath Advisory

Businesses are set to secure £5.5bn in scaled back government support to help them with their energy bills from the start of April, after the current scheme ends. The new Energy Bill Discount Scheme will reduce rather than cap energy costs for businesses and will last for 12 months. The latest measure replaces the Energy

All businesses are set to secure further taxpayer support for their energy bills when the current scheme ends in March but at a reduced cost to the taxpayer. The government is set to confirm later on Monday that it has decided on applying a discount to wholesale prices, for up to a year, following talks

A leisure entrepreneur whose dealmaking prowess earned her the nickname ‘the pub superwoman’ is in talks to join the board of Whitbread, the FTSE-100 hospitality group. Sky News has learnt that Dame Karen Jones, who has been a prominent industry figure for decades, is in advanced negotiations about becoming a non-executive director of the company

Richard Branson has revealed a bizarre story about finding Elon Musk in the kitchen of his New Mexico house in the middle of the night before his first space flight. In an interview this weekend, Mr Branson said the Twitter and Tesla owner was completely barefoot, holding his fast-asleep baby X Æ A-12, and had

The UK’s flag carrier airline has rolled out its first uniform change in 20 years, offering its 30,000 workers a choice of jumpsuits, hijabs, three-piece suits, and tunics. From spring this year, engineers and ground handling agents will be dressed in the designs of fashion designer, Ozwald Boateng, with cabin crew, pilots and check-in agents

Rail minister Huw Merriman will meet union leaders including Mick Lynch of the RMT on Monday after three weeks of unseasonal disruption left the two sides apparently as far apart as ever. While both say they are ready to talk, unions remain committed to further strikes if required and the government is legislating to limit

Windfall tax payments are to hit Shell by around $2bn (£1.7bn), the oil and gas company has estimated. The cost of the UK’s energy profits levy and the EU’s recently announced solidarity contribution will reach $2bn (£1.7bn) in tax liabilities in the final three months of its financial year, the firm said in a fourth

House prices have dropped for the fourth month in a row as cost of living pressures and higher borrowing costs dampen demand. The average house price fell to £281,272 in December, according to data from Halifax. It was a 1.5% decrease from November prices, which had already fallen more than 2%, representing the fastest decrease