Podcasts related to Economics

Another drop in unemployment figures today, down to 4.7% in the three months to January, but wages aren't growing - can the UK solve its productivity puzzle? Ben Kumar from 7 Investment Management joined Share Radio's Ed Bowsher to discuss the biggest economic stories of the day.

This week Georgie Frost is joined by editor Moira O'Neil and product researcher Adam Williams. With low interest rates forcing more and more people to turn to stocks and shares over cash savings we get Moneywise's top tips whether you've got £50 to invest or £50,000. Plus we'll be getting the Moneywise take on last week's budget and asking whether the NS&I bond lives up to expectation.

Brexit Secretary David Davis says the UK hasn't assessed the economic effect of leaving the EU without a deal. But the government's attitude isn't surprising. Dr Ben Margulies, from Warwick University's Department of Politics and International Studies, joined Share Radio's senior analyst Ed Bowsher to explain.

Georgie Frost was joined by personal finance expert Kevin White, of Fortem Financial Management this morning. Today on the agenda, they discussed how first-class carriages could be scrapped on busy commuter routes under plans to ease overcrowding. Plus they look into why sales of garden gnomes have increased five-fold in the last year. All these stories and more on The News Review.

To go through all the political headlines this morning, Georgie Frost was joined Billy Bambrough, Editor of Verdict.co.uk. A survey shows support for Scottish independence is at its highest ever. The ScotCen research group says 46 percent of the Scottish public want a split from the UK - that's a record level for the annual poll. But the Scottish Social Attitudes survey also suggested the popularity of the European Union has fallen.

Joining Georgie Frost to discuss the latest market headlines was Share Radio's very own Nigel Cassidy starting with the government selling off another chunk of Lloyd's Bank, which it rescued from collapse in 2009. And there's also been an announcement from Sports Direct. Nigel reveals what they have been saying. And moving away from the companies, the markets await a US interest rate decision.

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) says the UK construction industry could lose almost 200,000 EU workers if Britain leaves the single market. It argues that alternative plans need to be put in place in the event of a hard Brexit, otherwise some of the country's biggest infrastructure and construction projects could be put under threat. Abdul Choudhury, RICS Policy Manager for London, joined Nigel Cassidy on Share Radio Breakfast to discuss this.

New figures just out show that the number of companies in the UK has reached a record high - breaking the four million threshold for the first time. The boom is fuelled in a large part by the formation of new companies, with roughly 665 thousand started in the UK last year. But is this symptomatic of a flexible, dynamic workforce - or are there just no more full time jobs? Nigel Cassidy was joined by Jonathan Richards, CEO at breatheHR, a firm that provides software to SMEs.

The oil price has fallen following new OPEC production numbers, showing Saudi Arabia has surprisingly increased production. But do the figures point to a market that's still rebalancing? For more on this Richard Mallinson, a partner and geopolitical expert at Energy Aspects, joined Share Radio's Ed Bowsher.

Ocado has posted solid first quarter results, so why are investors selling the stock? Plus why are mergers on the rise in the UK? For more on this and all the need-to-know company news, deputy companies editor at the Financial Times, Daniel Thomas, joined Share Radio's Ed Bowsher.