Share Sounds. related to Economics - UK

There is widespread concern after British Airways and the Post Office joined Southern Rail in striking over the Christmas period. According to the latest figures by the Office for National Statistics, 281,000 days were lost to strike action up until the end of October 2016, which is over 100,000 more days than the same time last year. Share Radio’s Matt Cox investigated this new era of strike action with industrial action expert Professor Chris Rowley, Visiting Fellow at Kellogg College, University of Oxford, and Professor Emeritus at Cass Business School.

Sue Dougan is joined on the line with Hannah Maundrell, editor of money.co.uk. Today on the agenda, they discussed potential Christmas electricity blackouts, a 51% alcohol tax and have you finished your Christmas shopping if you're under 40? A poll says three quarters haven't. All these stories and more on The News Review.

In the careers clinic, we discuss how it's not always easy to find a new job, but changing your career is even more challenging. For many burned-out or multi-talented folks who are sitting on skills they're not getting a chance to use, changing fields is the only way to keep from losing their marbles. To discuss this further, Sue joined by James Innes, founder of the CV centre and author of five best-selling careers books.

Office perks may be a thing of the past, with less than a quarter (24%) of companies planning to throw an office party this Christmas. New research reveals almost a third of Brits (31%) will work until Christmas Eve this year and just under one in five (18%) will be in the office throughout the Christmas period. Tom Hellier from Willis Towers Watson, a human resources consulting firm told Share's Melanie Wray what they had found.

We are being urged to check our energy prices and consider fixing, as experts warn that gas and electricity prices are likely to continue rising in 2017 by as much as 5%. According to energy comparison website Energyhelpline.com, over the past six months the cheapest energy prices have risen from £734 a year in June to £870 a year now. This all comes as customers of Big Six energy provider EDF are facing the first bill hike in three years as power costs rise. To find out more, Sue Dougan spoke on the line to Energyhelpline's Mark Todd.

Alex Lydall, Senior 360 FX dealer at corporate forex broker Foenix Partners, joined Share Radio to discuss the market reaction to the U.S. Federal Reserve announcement of a three interest rates hikes in 2017, and what can we expect from President-elect Trump going forward.

This week Nick looks at the gig economy in 18th century Britain, with Judy Stephenson, a researcher in economic history at Wadham College Oxford. Lord Baker slams the government's education policy as inadequate to the needs of industry. What does the fourth industrial revolution mean for business? We find out with Rob Hiron of Kronos and finally Gerwyn Davis, Labour Market Analyst at the CIPD, talks to Nick about shared parental leave.

Welcome to the This is Money and Share Radio podcast, brought to you in partnership with NS&I. This week we’re getting festive with our annual Christmas taste test. Four retailers will be competing on cost and quality as we sample a full range of festive fare. Will last year’s champion Lidl hold its top place? Or will it fall victim to a resurgent Tesco? Also on trial this week we’ll have the upmarket option, Waitrose, and a mystery wildcard. Georgie Frost is joined by taste testers Editor Simon Lambert, Consumer Affairs editor Lee Boyce and special guest Development Editor Rich Browning. It’s not all eating though and as we delve into the financial stories of the day we’ll be serving up a starter of inflation forecasts, digging into a main course of mortgages and for pudding we’ll be rounding things off with a look at how the supermarkets have fared this year. This is Money is presented by Georgie Frost in partnership with NS&I.

Joining Georgie Frost in the studio for the third annual taste test is Editor Simon Lambert, Consumer Affairs editor Lee Boyce and special guest development editor Rich Browning from the Financial Website of the Year. The team attempt to talk money matters - such as shared appreciation mortgages, a holiday Brexit tax and supermarket price wars - as they munch their way through a veritable feast of festive favourites. Who among Waitrose, Tesco, Lidl and our wildcard, will win out on taste and price, in our completely unscientific, pointless bit of seasonal fun?!

Georgie Frost is joined in the studio by Share Radio’s Senior Analyst Ed Bowsher. Today on the agenda, they discuss even more strikes, now by cleaners on Great Western Railway. Plus money wiring scams. All these stories and more on The News Review.