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UK house prices rise for fourth month in a row, says Nationwide
Cost of average home in December reaches £269,426, with value increasing over year by almost £12,000 House prices rose for a fourth consecutive month in December, ending 2024 on a “strong footing”, Nationwide said, with the cost of an average home hitting £269,426. The building society’s monthly tracker found prices in December rose 0.7% on…
Centrelink payments increase, higher passport fees and pay rises: all the 1 January changes in Australia in 2025
Bigger Austudy and carer allowance payments, higher Medicare safety net thresholds and mandatory corporate reporting on climate also in 1 Jan changes With the new year come new policies, laws, taxes and reforms. Here’s everything to know about changes on 1 January, 2025 that could affect you. Centrelink payments, including youth allowance, Austudy and carer…
It’s time to get serious about stamp duty on shares, a terrible advert for London
The number of listed companies fleeing can’t be ignored – cutting or abolishing the tax could revive the capital market Last year was another depressing one for departures from the London stock market. Back in January, it was Flutter heading for the exit. The owner of Paddy Power, Betfair and Sky Bet got itself a…
Australian property prices fall for the first time in two years
Australia’s property market has finally come off the boil after a resilient run of growth at a time of high interest rates and inflationary pain. The 0.1% fall in December followed a flat result in November and a gradual slowing in the pace of growth over the course of the year. Sign up for Guardian…
Turnout inequality in UK elections close to tipping point, report warns
IPPR says elections could lose legitimacy because of falling turnout among groups such as renters and non-graduates UK elections are “close to a tipping point” where they lose legitimacy because of plummeting voter turnout among renters and non-graduates, an influential thinktank has said. Analysis by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) found that the…
The Papers: Energy bills ‘to rise further’ and world rings in 2025
“So much for cutting our energy bills!” is the headline on the front of The Daily Mail. It’s one of several papers to highlight increases in fuel costs for households. The Mail says Labour promised to slash prices, but the paper warns that families are now facing three hikes to the energy price cap in…
Post Office scandal: MPs call for financial penalty for slow payouts
A group of MPs says compensation is not being paid quickly enough for the victims of the Post Office scandal and is calling for the government to face financial penalties if the process doesn’t speed up. The Business and Trade Select Committee said binding timeframes were needed, with any money arising from missed deadlines going…
Woolworths to sell Australia Day holiday merchandise in reversal of 2024 policy
Supermarket chain says it will help customers ‘celebrate the day’ by selling flag-themed items Woolworths says it will mark the Australia Day holiday in-store this year, after it stopped stocking themed merchandise last year amid a “broader discussion” of what 26 January meant to the community. The supermarket chain, which also owns department store Big…
Great Guinness heist: thieves stole truck carrying 35,000 pints
Revealed: lorry with 400 kegs of the Irish stout onboard disappeared from Northamptonshire depot, sources say In the days leading up to Christmas, stout-lovers were left reeling from a nationwide shortage of Guinness so severe that some pubs were forced to ration pints of the “black stuff” as taps began to run dry. Supermarkets remain…