Top news
- Interest rates will fall more than we've been told, says Goldman Sachs
- Popular lager 'watered down' so brewery saves on UK alcohol tax
- It's now a buyer's market, says Rightmove
Essential reads
- New Money: How you can make big money online
- Which taxes could go up in the budget - and when?
- How putting a small bet on football could cost you a mortgage
Tips and advice
- Money Problem: 'I waited months for a delivery - then they said I needed to pay another £49 to get it'
- Easy ways to improve your credit score
- Can't afford rent this month? Here's what you can do
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Rising violence leaves 40% of retail workers wanting to quit
Nearly half of retail workers want to leave their jobs or the industry altogether in a bid to escape rising levels of violence and abuse, a survey has suggested.
According to charity Retail Trust, which surveyed 1,200 workers, 47% of retail staff fear for their safety at work due to rising incidents of violence.
Nearly half (48%) said they did not get enough support from their employer to deal with the current levels of violence, threats, and abuse.
The data also revealed that 55% of workers said the situation had worsened in the past two years.
Retail Trust CEO Chris Brook-Carter said the charity had heard "horrifying and heartbreaking" anecdotes from retail staff, including workers being spat on and having products smashed in front of them.
Hundreds of businesses call on chancellor to scrap 'tourist tax' in budget
More than 300 business leaders, including the CEO of British Airways and the boss of the Royal Opera House, have called on the chancellor to scrap the so-called "tourist tax" in her upcoming budget next week.
VAT-free shopping for tourists was scrapped by Rishi Sunak during his tenure as chancellor, with the Treasury arguing that reinstating the scheme would cost up to £2bn a year in lost taxes. But the UK is the only country in Europe that does allow visitors to reclaim the 20% VAT on everything they buy.
Business owners argue it unfairly penalises them, particularly those selling luxury items.
As well as those mentioned above, an open letter has been signed by hotelier Sir Rocco Forte, fashion designer Paul Smith, head of John Lewis Paul Marsden and business director of Bicester Village John Durnin.
It reads: "What has become known as the 'tourist tax' has turned into a spectacular own goal for the UK.
"People are increasingly choosing to shop in Paris, Milan and Berlin rather than here because the VAT rebate has gone."
It's now a buyer's market, says Rightmove
It's currently a buyer's market if you're considering purchasing a property, according to an analysis by Rightmove.
The average price of a home increased by less than usual for the month of October - by 0.3% month-on-month, or £1,199, to reach £371,958.
It is a result of increased negotiating power among buyers, Rightmove said, given there is a greater choice of properties on the market.
Tim Bannister, Rightmove's director of property science, said: "This month's subdued price growth comes as buyer choice soars to a level not seen since 2014.
"With the ball in the buyer's court and the pick of a big crop to choose from, sellers need to be pricing competitively to find a buyer, particularly with affordability still very stretched.
"We're not seeing activity slow down, but some estate agents report that some movers are now waiting for budget clarity and anticipated cheaper mortgage rates later this year. However, others state that movers are largely just getting on with plans."
It's worth pointing out that house prices are still historically high and interest rates - while coming down - are still at elevated levels.
Interest rates will fall more than we've been told, says Goldman Sachs
The question of where interest rates will eventually land has been the source of much speculation in the last year or two.
Around 3.5% has been an often-cited destination point for late next year as central banks, having seen inflation come under control, ease monetary policy.
But two predictions today might please anyone due to remortgage in around a year's time.
US investment bank Goldman Sachs is now forecasting a drop to 2.75% by November 2025.
Goldman pointed to "rapidly falling inflation and dovish Monetary Policy Committee commentary".
The base rate was raised to 5.25% last August, a 16-year high.
We've had one cut since then, with another widely anticipated on 7 November which would bring the rate to 4.75%.
In a separate forecast,Deutsche Bank has also lowered its expectation to 3% for the early part of 2026.
How to keep your garden looking nice through winter - and avoid costly issues
ByKatie Williams, live news reporter
Our homes can certainly take a hit in the winter - and that's true of our outside spaces too.
The thought of trudging outside when it's cold may not be the most appealing thought, but it's important to keep your garden in shape ready for spring.
Here with some tips for keeping your garden looking lovely during colder periods is Andy Simms, a trade expert at MyBuilder.com...
Protect outdoor taps and water features
Ice can become a real issue for outdoor taps, as freezing water expands and can damage pipework, so make sure they are protected and you won't have to fork out for costly repairs. Ensure outdoor taps are drained fully and provide cover to prevent them from freezing if you can. Adding pipe lagging is advisable and can be quickly done. Water features should also be fully drained and covered.
Plant for the birds
Think about the wildlife over winter and plant berry-rich trees and shrubs like rowan, hawthorn, guelder-rose and holly bushes. These look beautiful through winter and also provide shelter and food for birds.
Mulching
Mulching is a very popular tactic used by seasoned professionals to safeguard your garden. Applying mulch to your garden creates a blanket to protect it and will reduce soil erosion that occurs following heavy rain.
Weeding
Surprisingly, this time of year can be good to attack those weeds to prevent them appearing in spring, when prevention becomes harder and you're dealing in suppression.
Protect your plants
Wind, rain, frost, snow, hail - all the elements that need to be kept from damaging or killing off your plants, so that you don't have to buy them again next year. If possible, invest in appropriate cover for your plants - or manipulate natural shelter to give them the best protection.
Plant evergreens
Seek advice on suitable plants to keep your garden attractive over winter - otherwise you're going to be in a cycle of buying new plants every spring. Generally, evergreens are low maintenance and hardy enough to survive - this ensures your garden has some greenery to enjoy during the colder months.
New benefit launched in Scotland
A new benefit for pensioners with disabilities has been rolled out in a pilot scheme in parts of Scotland.
The "pension age disability payment" will support those of state pension age who are disabled, have a long-term health condition or are terminally ill.
It will provide between £290 and £434 per month to successful applicants.
The new benefit will be open for applications in Argyll and Bute, Aberdeen, Orkney, Shetland and Highland council areas from today, but won't be rolled out across the country until next spring.
It will replace the current attendance allowance offered by the UK government, and those already in receipt will have their claims moved to Social Security Scotland in early 2025.
Maximum ticket price proposal to be discussed in parliament after Oasis backlash
A new law would guarantee fans the right to know the maximum ticket price at the beginning of the buying process.
The Oasis ticket sale this summer saw many fans pay double (after queuing online for hours) due to "dynamic pricing" on Ticketmaster.
Some standard tickets jumped from £148 to £355 on the day of the sale.
In response, The Sale of Tickets (Sporting and Cultural Events) Bill has been put forward in the House of Commons.
Labour MP Rupa Huq said: "There should be some certainty, some predictability, particularly as we're in a cost of living crisis.
"But even irrespective of that there needs to be some fairness in the process because it feels as if the consumer balance is wrong and the ticket merchants can literally double it, triple it, think of a number, infinity and beyond."
Ms Huq is currently developing the text for the bill, which could be considered further at the start of December.
The bill currently stops short of outlawing dynamic pricing, however.
Pound falls for third straight week
By Sarah Taaffe-Maguire, business reporter
It's the third week of falling pound values as sterling dropped to $1.30 as the dollar value rose.
However, that $1.30 sum is still higher than the vast majority of the last year - so not terrible news for travellers or importers of US products.
The dollar has done well amid bets that Donald Trump could win the election and bring in policies that cause inflation to rise. His possible victory is also behind gold rising to a new high. The material is seen as a safe thing to invest in during tumultuous times.
Against the euro, the pound has dropped below €1.20, a recent high.
Oil is at $73.65 for a barrel of Brent crude, one of the lowest prices this month.
The benchmark UK stock market index, the FTSE 100, is up 0.33% today and reached the highest level in three months, helped by mining and oil companies.
The more UK-focused FTSE 250 climb continued after a big drop at the start of the month. It is up 0.05% today.
New Money: How you can make big money online
The internet and social media has radically changed the world of work. There are now hundreds of new ways to make a living online - and some of them are extremely profitable.
A new Sky News series called New Money takes a look inside these new digital industries, speaking to influencers, content creators and business owners across the country.
Watch all four episodes on YouTube now...
Brewery waters down beer in effort to cut 23p tax per can
A major beer brewery has announced is is cutting the ABV strength of one of its lagers in order to cut nearly a pound in tax for every four cans it sells.
Grolsch Premium Pilsner has become the latest to suffer from so-called "drinkflation", with the strength of Dutch beer dropping to 3.4% ABV from 4.0% in the UK.
It carries a strength of 5% ABV elsewhere in Europe - and was sold as such in the UK 10 years ago.
Its brewer, Asahi, relaunched the lager in the UK at 4.0% in 2020, but is now cutting it further in response to alcohol duties enacted by the previous government in August last year.
Many brewers lowered their alcohol content just before the rules came into force - which you can read about here.
This latest reduction in Grolsch's strength will save Asahi UK 23p in excise duty for every 440ml can sold.
It comes as sales of the Dutch beer have failed to live up to expectations.
"Following much analysis, we decided to reformulate Grolsch to a new ABV of 3.4%, which went into market earlier this year," an Asahi spokeswoman told The Grocer.
"We are confident this still delivers an excellent premium beer that will appeal to a broad range of consumers."