Business conditions

New and updated

• Call for evidence on improving business productivity

  Type:

  Consultations

  The Government is seeking views on the factors that may impact on business productivity and growth.

• Carphone Warehouse closes stores as Pret staff get £1000 bonus

  Date:

  30 May 2018

  Type:

  News

  Carphone Warehouse is to close 92 stores after the retailer became the latest to issue a profit warning, amid continuing woes on the high street. The chain's owner Dixons Carphone, however, said that staff would be redeployed to larger outlets.

• Business confidence: private sector

  Type:

  Indicators

  Updated to include the outlook on the services industry from the CBI Quarterly Service Sector Survey, May 2018.

• Could universal basic income ever take off in the UK?

  Date:

  22 May 2018

  Type:

  Commentary and analysis

  Universal basic income has been described as everything between a utopian ideal and "dangerous nonsense", but with a trial due to take place soon with local authorities in Scotland, how likely is it that it could become a reality in the UK? Jo Faragher investigates.

• Review of pay awards 2017: Private-sector pay

  Date:

  12 October 2017

  Type:

  Survey analysis

  Pay awards across the private sector are worth a median 2% in the year to the end of August 2017, but some variation exists by industry.

• Review of pay awards 2017: Not-for-profit - charities

  Date:

  12 October 2017

  Type:

  Survey analysis

  Low pay growth continues in the charity sector.

• Review of pay awards 2017: Chemicals, pharmaceuticals and oil

  Date:

  12 October 2017

  Type:

  Survey analysis

  The chemicals sector, once renowned for awarding higher pay rises than others, is now awarding increases at the same level as other parts of the economy.

• Review of pay awards 2017: Construction

  Date:

  12 October 2017

  Type:

  Survey analysis

  The construction industry has recorded one of the highest median pay awards of any sector over the past year.

• Review of pay awards 2017: Electricity, gas and water

  Date:

  12 October 2017

  Type:

  Survey analysis

  More pay deals pitched at a higher level than last year as median in the utilities sector rises to 2%.

• Review of pay awards 2017: Engineering and metals

  Date:

  12 October 2017

  Type:

  Survey analysis

  Engineering sector pay awards are flat at 2% despite more buoyant trading conditions.