Podcasts related to Economics - UK

Today on the agenda, Sue Dougan and Personal finance expert Kevin White discussed the latest inflation figures. Plus they look into why drivers are paying over 100 pounds more for their car insurance on average this year - compared with 2016. All these stories and more on The News Review.

Boris Johnson has asked G7 to consider fresh sanctions against Russia and Syria, claiming Putin is ‘toxifying’ Russia’s image and says Kremlin has to choose between withdrawing support for Assad or facing penalties. And Theresa May and Donald Trump have agreed a "window of opportunity now exists" to persuade Russia to drop its links with the Syrian government.

Joining Sue Dougan for the latest market headlines was Nigel Cassidy, starting with some inflation figures this morning. Plus, JD Sports has reported record profits with an 81% increase in pre-tax profits last year to £238.4m. And around 700 jobs are under threat at luxury fashion chain Jaeger.

Fresh details on price rises and wage growth this week are expected to underline the rising pressures on UK household budgets as the pound’s sharp fall since the Brexit vote continues to stoke inflation. The Bank of England has warned the economy’s main engine of growth, consumer spending, will lose momentum this year as rising living costs eat into people’s budgets. Economists expect official figures on Tuesday will vindicate those worries, with inflation forecast to have reached its highest level for more than three years in March.

New evidence suggests the Bank of England may have been involved in the Libor rigging scandal. A secret recording from 2008 uncovered by the BBC suggests that the UK's central bank pressured commercial banks to push Libor rates down during the Financial Crisis. Libor is the rate at which banks lend to each other, setting a benchmark for mortgages and loans for ordinary customers. In one section of the recording, Senior Barclays manager Mark Dearlove speaks to Libor submitter Peter Johnson, telling him: "The bottom line is you're going to absolutely hate this... but we've had some very serious pressure from the UK government and the Bank of England about pushing our Libors lower." Ed Bowsher was joined by Chris Justham of 7IM.

New evidence uncovered by the BBC implicates the Bank of England in the Libor rate-rigging scandal. To discuss this and more of the day's big macro news stories, Ed Bowsher was joined by Ken Odeluga of City Index.

Today on the agenda, Sarah and personal finance journalist Rosie Taylor discussed changes in the rules imposed by the financial regulator, the FCA, mean that many find it harder to qualify for a mortgage deal. Plus they look into why parents spend an average of more than £2500 when their children leave home. All these stories and more on The News Review.

Some of the world's most powerful nations will discuss later how to respond to the crisis in Syria. Foreign secretary Boris Johnson has cancelled a visit to Moscow to attend the G7 meeting instead. Plus, police officers from around the country will be in London later for the funeral of PC Keith Palmer who died during the London terror attack.

Joining Sarah Pennells to discuss the latest market headlines is Share Radio's Nigel Cassidy, starting with Barclays. City regulators are investigating the bank and its boss Jes Staley. Plus, staying with banks and investigations, a secret recording that implicates the Bank of England in Libor rigging has been uncovered by BBC Panorama.

Boris Johnson has claimed that that the US could launch further strikes against the Assad regime, ahead of key international talks to put pressure on Russia to rethink its support for its Syrian ally. The UK Foreign Secretary cancelled a planned trip to Moscow at the weekend, leading the Kremlin to swipe at the UK for lacking “real influence” internationally.