The economy

Prospective tax rises and the return of VAT to the old rate of 17.5 per cent may have had an adverse effect on consumer confidence.

Online businesses saw sales soar during the Christmas period.

Indications that the UK economy is emerging from recession were reinforced by new figures detailing an upturn in growth in the services industry.

The jobs market could be returning to its pre-credit crunch levels.

The Bank of England has left itself the option of pumping more money into the economy should the recovery begin to falter next year.

The number of households that are using their money to pay down debts or to boost their savings is on the increase and could be having an adverse effect on the economic recovery.

The UK economy is set to emerge from the recession during the fourth quarter of 2009, the CBI has forecast.

It has been estimated that a half of UK employees have made some form of pay sacrifice during the recession in an effort to preserve jobs.

UK households are upping their spend on green goods and services, albeit slowly, a new report has revealed.

Business groups greeted the Chancellor’s pre-Budget Report with a mixture of encouragement and dismay.