UK manufacturing growth at three-month high. 3 November 2014Last updated at 06:32 ET UK manufacturing activity grew at its fastest pace for three months in October, despite a sharp fall in export orders, a survey has indicated.
The Markit UK manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) rose to 53.2 in October from 51.5 in September. A figure above 50 indicates growth. Despite the rise, export orders fell at their fastest pace since January 2013. Markit said "a near stagnant" eurozone economy was to blame for the drop in export orders. The strength of sterling against the euro also hit sales, Markit said, while some firms also mentioned slower growth in other key markets, such as the US and China. 'Mini-recovery' Markit said the pick-up in overall growth, a sharp turnaround from September when the sector grew at its slowest pace for 17 months, mainly reflected the resilience of the UK market.
The PMI survey also found that average output prices rose at the slowest pace in 16 months. 3 November 2014Last updated at 06:32 ET 'Mini-recovery' Who are the "big six" energy companies? 27 March 2014Last updated at 13:48 ET Half a dozen major energy companies have come to dominate the market in the UK, supplying about 95% of all household gas and electricity.
But who are they? Known as the "big six", their activities leave only a tiny proportion of the market to be served by a clutch of smaller suppliers. The big six are: British Gas Size and ownership: British Gas is the UK's largest domestic energy supplier. Chris Weston is managing director of British Gas It is part of the British-owned Centrica Group, a huge company also involved in gas and oil exploration and production. Centrica employs 33,000 people in Britain. Latest price announcements: British Gas raised its prices for its dual-fuel customers by 9.2% in November. Average household dual-fuel bills were estimated to rise by £123 to £1,444 a year as a result. It then reduced dual fuel prices by 3.2% on 1 January owing to the government's reduction of green levies. Profits: £571m for domestic supply in 2013. Npower E.On. Number of UK High Street shops falls sharply. 8 October 2014Last updated at 19:39 ET The number of shops on the High Street declined dramatically in the first nine months of this year, a survey suggests.
Town centres saw 964 net closures between January and September, two-and-a-half times the net reduction for the whole of 2013, according to the study by PwC and the Local Data Company. The collapse of businesses such as Phones 4U and lingerie chain La Senza accelerated the decline, PwC said. Clothing shops were among the hardest hit while betting shops thrived. In total 365 traditional goods retailers, such as shoe and clothes shops, closed down in the first half of the year. The number of travel agents and pawnbrokers also fell. This was exacerbated by a dramatic reduction in the number of Albermarle & Bond shops after the pawnbroker fell into administration and had to be rescued by an investment group. Coffee shops thrive "Multiple retailers are continuing to close stores on High Streets in favour of retail parks and shopping centres. Summary: UK Trade, August 2014 - ONS. United Kingdom (GBR) Profile of Exports, Imports and Trade Partners.