SYDNEY — With petrol prices climbing above A$2.50 a litre and diesel nearing A$3 in parts of the country, many Australians are scrambling for inventive ways to cut costs or even cancel long-planned Easter getaways as the four-day long weekend approaches.
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The fuel crisis, triggered by disruptions in global oil supplies following conflict in the Middle East, has forced families and holidaymakers to rethink traditional road trips, flights and regional escapes that usually define the Easter break. Data from consumer group Finder shows that the 56 per cent of Australians planning to spend on Easter activities this year expect to outlay an average of A$2,019 — up sharply from A$1,556 the previous year — with travel accounting for the bulk of the increase.
More than 40 per cent of Australians have already altered or cancelled Easter travel plans, according to late March figures from the Tourism and Transport Forum. Regional tourism operators report a surge in cancellations, leaving smaller hotels and motels bracing for one of their toughest periods in years despite pleas for visitors to support local economies.
The Easter long weekend, running from Good Friday on April 3 to Easter Monday on April 6 in 2026, traditionally sees millions hit the roads or skies. Last year more than 4.5 million people took overnight trips, with the vast majority driving. This year, the combination of elevated fuel costs and lingering jet fuel surcharges has upended those routines.
For many, the classic Aussie road trip — loading the car with family, esky and camping gear — has become prohibitively expensive. A 500-kilometre journey in a conventional petrol vehicle can now cost a family around A$140 in fuel alone, compared with roughly A$15 for the same distance in an electric vehicle, according to charging network data. Some drivers are switching to EVs where possible or seeking cheaper alternatives.
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Creative cost-cutting strategies are proliferating. Families are packing kitchenettes and coffee machines for self-catering in cabins or holiday parks rather than eating out. One Sydney parent described skipping surfing lessons for the children and instead using old bodyboards, while preparing most meals at the accommodation to avoid cafe prices that can reach A$7 for a basic flat white.
Others are turning to slower, cheaper transport. Overnight trains from Sydney to Melbourne or Brisbane have gained popularity for their affordability and novelty, with some fares significantly lower than equivalent flights or long drives. In Queensland, TransLink’s 50-cent capped fares across large parts of the network have become a viral budget hack, allowing day trips or short hops at a fraction of usual costs.
Rail services between major cities, such as Adelaide to Melbourne for around A$150, offer a fuel-free option that some travellers say feels more relaxing than battling holiday traffic. Budget airline sales, including Jetstar’s “life’s a beach” promotions with fares from A$49 to destinations like the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast, have also drawn interest despite higher base airfares on many routes.
Staycations have emerged as a popular fallback. Australians are rediscovering attractions in their own cities or nearby suburbs — free museums, galleries, parks and beaches — rather than venturing far. Financial planning experts recommend old-fashioned family activities such as picnics with egg-and-spoon races or three-legged races in local parks, which cost nothing but create lasting memories.
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Car camping, hipcamping on private rural properties, and shorter drives to closer destinations help minimise fuel use. Some caravan owners are arranging delivery of their rigs directly to campsites to avoid towing heavy loads that guzzle diesel. Others advise driving at 90-100 km/h instead of 110 km/h to improve efficiency by 15-20 per cent on long stretches.
The government has responded by halving the fuel excise tax to 26.3 cents a litre, providing some relief at the pump, though prices remain elevated compared with early 2025 levels. Localised shortages have added anxiety, prompting some to stock up or adjust routes to hit cheaper stations identified through mapping apps and artificial intelligence tools.
Regional tourism bodies are urging Australians to support smaller towns and businesses hit hard by the downturn. Accommodation providers in areas reliant on Easter visitors warn that a quiet long weekend could compound challenges heading into winter. Some operators have introduced flexible packages or discounts to entice cautious travellers.
Travel experts note that while international trips face additional pressures from global uncertainty, many Australians are choosing to explore closer to home as a way to balance budgets and reduce environmental impact. Destinations such as Melbourne’s cultural offerings, the Kimberley region for those who can manage costs, or simple coastal drives within a few hours of major cities remain on shortened itineraries.
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Families with children during the school holidays are particularly inventive. Free or low-cost activities — hiking trails, bike packing, backyard camp-outs with blanket forts or marshmallow roasts — replace paid experiences. Some parents pack special-occasion treats at home rather than buying them on the road.
The broader cost-of-living pressures amplify the challenge. Housing costs, groceries and everyday expenses have left less discretionary income for holidays, even as travel ranks high on many savings priority lists for 2026. Surveys show nearly half of Australians place holidays among their top two financial goals, yet execution proves difficult when unexpected spikes hit.
Aged care worker Claire Harvey from Melbourne plans an EV drive to Adelaide that will cost under A$75 each way — a stark contrast to the A$183 she would have paid in her previous petrol car. Others have cancelled altogether, weighing cancellation fees against projected fuel bills that could exceed A$2,000 for longer trips.
Tourism operators acknowledge the difficult environment but highlight opportunities to “rediscover Australia” through slower, more mindful travel. Shorter stays closer to home, combined with free public facilities and outdoor spaces, can still deliver quality family time without breaking the bank.
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As the long weekend nears, travel comparison sites and apps report heightened searches for budget hacks, fuel-efficient routes and alternative transport. Community forums buzz with shared tips — from splitting costs in group travel to using public transport networks creatively.
Economists and academics urge a balanced approach: prioritise connection and enjoyment over lavish spending. Simple pleasures like shared picnics or local exploration often create stronger memories than expensive add-ons.
The situation remains fluid. Further government measures on fuel supply or additional airline promotions could ease pressures, but for now many Australians are adapting with resilience and creativity. Whether opting for a train journey, a nearby staycation or a carefully planned shorter road trip in an efficient vehicle, holidaymakers are determined not to let rising costs entirely derail the spirit of Easter.
The long weekend will test the adaptability of Australian travellers and the tourism sector alike. While some destinations may see quieter roads and fewer visitors, those who venture out — armed with packed lunches, slower speeds and local knowledge — may find unexpected rewards in more affordable, intimate experiences.
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For families facing tight budgets, the message from experts is clear: creativity and flexibility can salvage the holiday without sacrificing joy. As one parent summarised, luxuries don’t make memories — shared time and simple adventures do.
Bandhan Bank posted healthy growth in advances along with steady deposit mobilisation for the quarter ended March 31, 2026, as per its provisional update released on Saturday. The bank’s loans and advances, including on-book and PTC, stood at Rs 1.54 lakh crore at the end of the March quarter, registering a 12.6% year-on-year increase and a 6.2% sequential rise.
Total deposits came in at Rs 1.66 lakh crore, up 10% from a year ago and 6.1% higher on a quarter-on-quarter basis. CASA deposits rose 2.8% year-on-year to Rs 48,751 crore, with the CASA ratio at 29.31% at the end of the quarter.
Retail term deposits saw strong growth, increasing 30.1% year-on-year to Rs 73,796 crore. Overall retail deposits, including CASA, rose 17.7% to Rs 1.22 lakh crore. Bulk deposits declined 6.9% year-on-year to Rs 43,797 crore. Meanwhile, the share of retail deposits in total deposits improved to 73.67% from 68.88% in the same period last year.
The bank reported a liquidity coverage ratio of about 131.76% as of March 31, 2026. Collection efficiency remained robust, with pan-bank efficiency, excluding NPAs, at 98.9% for March 2026, compared to 98.1% in December 2025.
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Banking stocks have come under sharp pressure over the past three months, with most lenders underperforming the benchmark Nifty 50 amid a challenging macro backdrop marked by sustained foreign institutional investor (FII) outflows, escalating geopolitical tensions, and a surge in energy prices. Bandhan Bank is down 18% in the last 1 month.
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The underperformance comes amid persistent FII selling, which has disproportionately impacted financials due to their heavy weightage in benchmark indices. At the same time, the escalation of the Iran-Israel conflict has triggered a spike in crude oil prices, raising concerns over inflation and delaying expectations of interest rate cuts by global central banks. The lender has also been in the headlines after The Economic Timesreported that Bandhan Financial Services is exploring exit options for its long-term investors, including GIC Ventures and International Finance Corporation.Also read: HDFC Bank Q4 business update: Lender reports 15% YoY growth in deposits, advances jump 12%
The report said the company has appointed Jefferies to assess investor interest, particularly from private equity funds. The move is also in line with regulatory requirements that mandate Bandhan Financial to reduce the promoter’s stake in the bank to 26% by 2030.
(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)
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Private sector lender AU Small Finance Bank reported steady growth across key balance sheet items, its fourth-quarter business update on Saturday showed.
The bank’s total deposits stood at Rs 1.52 lakh crore as of March 31, 2026, registering a 22.8% year-on-year growth and a 10.3% increase sequentially from Rs 1.38 lakh crore as of December 31, 2025. CASA deposits came in at Rs 43,360 crore, up 19.6% year-on-year and 8.5% quarter-on-quarter. However, the CASA ratio stood at 28.4%, compared to 29.2% a year ago and 28.9% in the previous quarter.
On the advances front, gross advances stood at Rs 1.36 lakh crore, reflecting a 25.1% year-on-year growth and an 8.7% rise sequentially from Rs 1.26 lakh crore. The bank’s securitised and assigned portfolio was reported at Rs 4,290 crore, compared to Rs 6,926 crore in the year-ago period and Rs 4,689 crore in the previous quarter.
Overall, the gross loan portfolio (A+B) stood at Rs 1.40 lakh crore as of March 31, 2026, marking a 21.3% year-on-year growth and an 8% increase quarter-on-quarter from Rs 1.30 lakh crore.
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Banking stocks have come under sharp pressure over the past three months, with most lenders underperforming the benchmark Nifty 50 amid a challenging macro backdrop marked by sustained foreign institutional investor (FII) outflows, escalating geopolitical tensions and a surge in energy prices. AU Small Finance Bank shares have declined 13% since the beginning of the year.
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The underperformance comes amid persistent FII selling, which has disproportionately impacted financials due to their heavy weightage in benchmark indices. At the same time, the escalation of the Iran-Israel conflict has triggered a spike in crude oil prices, raising concerns over inflation and delaying expectations of interest rate cuts by global central banks. In a separate development in February, the Haryana government de-empanelled the lender from government business after suspected fraudulent activities were disclosed.The company issued a clarification late Sunday, stating it initiated an internal review regarding two accounts in question. The bank further said that both these accounts were “duly opened after completion of all applicable KYC checks and requisite authorisations” and were in accordance with the bank’s internal policies and processes.
(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)
Centenary House in Morecambe has been largely empty since 1990s
Robbie Macdonald and Local Democracy Reporter
13:00, 04 Apr 2026
Centenary House, on Morecambe’s Regent Street(Image: Google Maps)
New calls have been made to regenerate a landmark Morecambe building, as a big shake-up of councils looms in 2028 with uncertainty about future support.
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Centenary House, on Morecambe’s Regent Street, has been largely vacant since the mid-1990s except for a ground-floor Co-op shop. Some repairs were done in 2024 using government cash. Earlier in 2019, a plan was approved for offices, a café, work and event spaces but it did not progress.
Council talks have been held recently with an affordable homes organisation about it. But a lack of nearby car parking, and possibly other things, could be turning-off some developers, councillors were told at Lancaster City Council’s latest full meeting.
Labour’s David Whittaker asked Morecambe Bay Independent Martin Bottoms, a cabinet member, about the situation.
Coun Whittaker said: “Has there been any recent engagement with external funding sources to help Centenary House? What do you see as a realistic outcome for the future of the building? Car parking is another consideration. I know this is a long-term question but a lot of people are asking about it.”
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Coun Bottoms, who has a remit for Morecambe regeneration and its local economy, said: “Brownfield regeneration money is available for developers to move this forward. Centenary House is bordered by roads and there is little car parking space. Whether it has community or commercial uses, there are going to be some parking issues.
“We are in talks with an affordable housing developer but they are aware that car parking needs have to be considered.”
Then Coun Whittaker added: “Will things progress before local government reorganisation?”
Coun Bottoms said: “It’s something we have all had concerns about since the council’s new administration was formed. We need to find a solution. It’s down to us to get it done. Or, at least, get it started before local government reorganisation. I will be pressing for that.”
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The Lancaster City Council district including Morecambe could be merged with Preston and the Ribble Valley under the government’s push to reorganise all Lancashire councils in 2028. The government wants to end the two-tier system of district and county councils created in 1974.
New bigger unitary councils, with access to major funds and government contacts, will likely cover bigger areas and include a wider intake of councillors. So how projects like Centenary House will be viewed by future councillors is unknown.
To find all the planning applications, traffic diversions, road layout changes, alcohol licence applications and more in your community, visit the Public Notices Portal.
Posters of films are on display at a cinema in Shanghai, Aug. 31, 2025.
Vcg | Visual China Group | Getty Images
Hollywood has lost one of its most lucrative theatrical markets. It’s unclear if it will ever win it back.
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The Chinese box office was once a coveted space for American-made movies, so much so that studios produced films that would appeal directly to this international audience. But in the postpandemic cinema landscape, Hollywood hasn’t generated the strong ticket sales it once saw for its biggest blockbusters — and a waning relationship with Chinese cinemas is at least partly to blame.
The U.S.-China Film Agreement, struck in 2012 between the two governments, guaranteed 34 U.S. films would be released in China each year. That pact ended in 2017 and was never renewed or renegotiated. At the same time, China began expanding its local film production and instituting blackout dates to promote viewership of its homegrown titles.
Add in strict censorship policies from the China Film Administration and recent political strains between the U.S. and China, and Hollywood films have faced several hurdles just to get distribution in the country post-Covid.
“I think that the kind of euphoria about the world’s largest market and thinking about China as a place that always creates a larger market for U.S. [intellectual property] is not accurate,” said Aynne Kokas, a professor at the University of Virginia and the author of “Hollywood Made in China.”
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“[There are] constraints on the market in a couple of ways, first related to content control and not just content control in terms of censorship, but also in terms of control of distribution channels by the party,” Kokas said.
She said the film bureau will “turn on and off the levers of distribution based on the needs of the market.” If local Chinese films are doing well, the country will limit distribution access for foreign films. If there are gaps in film releases or releases aren’t selling as many tickets, it will open up the market.
In 2019, nine U.S. titles each generated more than $100 million at the Chinese box office, with Disney and Marvel Studio’s “Avengers: Endgame” collecting more than $600 million in the region, according to data from Comscore.
In the past five years combined, however, only 10 American films have generated more than $100 million in China, with only two topping $200 million.
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The outlier is Disney’s “Zootopia 2,” which tallied a record-breaking $650 million in the country following its 2025 release.
Box office analysts tell CNBC that this feat is likely an anomaly and studios and Wall Street shouldn’t expect a sudden resurgence of ticket sales for American-made fare in the region even as major franchises launch ahead of the key summer movie season.
Market nuances
What performs well in the U.S. isn’t guaranteed to succeed in China, despite the massive audience potential.
“There’s not necessarily a one-to-one correlation between popular IP in the U.S. and popular IP in China,” Kokas said.
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In some cases, it’s a lack of nostalgia on the part of Chinese audiences. Kokas noted that when Star Wars was introduced in the region with the sequel trilogy in 2015, it fell flat because the previous films from the original and prequel trilogies were never released in China, so the later installments didn’t have the boost of a built-in fanbase.
Distribution experts told CNBC that the Chinese film bureau and audience tend to gravitate toward features that are visual spectacles and apolitical.
Films that have performed well in the region since the pandemic include entries from the Fast & Furious saga, Jurassic World flicks and installments from the Godzilla and King Kong franchises.
Even with the recent lull in ticket sales from Chinese releases, studios aren’t deterred from launching titles in the region. One distribution expert told CNBC that China remains a major theatrical opportunity for American-made films.
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“China remains an essential component in any international strategy by U.S.-based studios because there are many hundreds of millions of dollars potentially to be earned there due to an undeniable appetite in the region for the big Hollywood movies,” said Paul Dergarabedian, head of marketplace trends at Comscore.
Universal’s “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” is the next U.S. entrant into the country, due in theaters this weekend.
The franchise’s first film, “The Super Mario Bros. Movie,” tallied more than $1.3 billion globally in 2023, but only $25 million of that total came from China.
One distribution expert told CNBC that console games, like Nintendo’s Super Mario franchise, are not as prevalent in the region, meaning the nostalgia that drove $575 million in domestic ticket sales was not a major factor over in China.
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Meanwhile, in Japan, where Super Mario is a cultural icon, the film generated $102 million.
Still, the Chinese market helps bolster the overall haul of a film and has the potential to cement a breakout hit. So studios are still willing to give titles a theatrical release in the region.
Also on the docket for distribution in China this year is Universal’s “Michael,” Warner Bros.’ “Mortal Kombat II” and Disney’s “The Devil Wears Prada 2.”
Because of China’s strict censorship policies, films must be completed and screened by the film bureau before they are considered for distribution. Therefore, the Hollywood slate in China is not set in stone in the same way the domestic movie slate is.
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But box office analysts expect titles like Disney and Pixar’s “Toy Story 5” and Warner Bros.’ “Dune: Part Three,” as well as Disney and Marvel’s “Avengers: Doomsday” to also land in Chinese theaters this year.
Amazon is dusting itself off for another tilt at Britain’s fiercely competitive grocery sector, this time by converting its abandoned Fresh convenience stores into outlets for Whole Foods Market, the organic chain it acquired for $13.7 billion in 2017.
The move comes barely six months after the US tech giant shuttered 19 of its much-hyped “grab and go” Fresh stores across the country. Launched in 2021 with bold talk of hundreds of locations and a revolution in convenience shopping, the till-free format simply failed to resonate with British consumers. By September last year, the experiment was over.
Now Amazon is hoping Whole Foods can succeed where Fresh could not. The brand, which currently operates seven shops in London, intends to open five additional sites by the end of June. Four of these will occupy former Fresh premises, including a new store in Angel, Islington, which opened this week, alongside planned locations at Wood Wharf in Canary Wharf, Gracechurch Street in the City, Liverpool Street and Notting Hill Gate. A further opening is earmarked for St James’s.
Jade Hoai, executive leader of purchasing at Whole Foods Market UK, said the London expansion reflected confidence in the brand’s offer, particularly in neighbourhoods where customers shop frequently and seek high-quality food as part of their daily routine.
Yet the pivot inevitably raises the question of whether Amazon is merely replacing one struggling format with another. Whole Foods has endured a bruising time on this side of the Atlantic since entering the British market in 2004. Turnover at its UK arm fell seven per cent to £86.4 million in the year to December 2024, while pre-tax losses hit £20 million. Cumulative losses have now surpassed £200 million. The company closed two underperforming stores and its Dartford distribution centre in early 2024 and cut its average headcount from 798 to 608.
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High operating costs and stiff competition from established players have consistently undermined the chain’s efforts, and its premium pricing has proved a hard sell in a market dominated by the discounters Aldi and Lidl at one end and well-entrenched giants such as Tesco and Sainsbury’s at the other.
The picture is markedly different in the United States, where Whole Foods has enjoyed steady growth under Amazon’s stewardship. The American operation has expanded its market share by aggressively cutting prices and rolling out smaller-format stores, successfully shedding the nickname “Whole Paycheque”, a longstanding joke that a single bag of groceries there could swallow an entire salary.
Whether that formula can translate to the UK remains to be seen. Hoai pointed to what she described as a clear shift in consumer behaviour, with growing demand for quality, transparency and a more considered retail experience.
The new Angel store, spanning 3,600 square feet, features a hot food counter, self-serve coffee and an Amazon kiosk. Delivery through Deliveroo is expected to follow shortly.
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For Amazon, the stakes extend beyond groceries. The company has long viewed physical retail as a gateway to embedding itself more deeply in consumers’ daily lives and driving subscriptions to its Prime service. But its track record in British bricks-and-mortar retailing offers little cause for confidence, and the decision to pour further investment into a brand that has bled more than £200 million in losses will test the patience even of a company with pockets as deep as Amazon’s.
Amy Ingham
Amy is a newly qualified journalist specialising in business journalism at Business Matters with responsibility for news content for what is now the UK’s largest print and online source of current business news.
The majority of Britain’s ultra-wealthy individuals are actively weighing up whether to leave the country, driven not so much by the level of taxation but by what they see as a government incapable of providing a stable fiscal framework.
A survey of 200 multi-millionaires, each with a personal fortune of at least £50m, carried out by accountancy firm BDO, found that two-thirds had considered relocating over the past twelve months. The most striking finding, however, was the reason: 42 per cent pointed to inconsistent tax policies as the principal factor behind their deliberations, while just 18 per cent cited high tax rates alone.
The distinction matters. Britain has long taxed at rates comparable to or above those of its European neighbours, yet the ultra-rich have historically stayed put. What appears to have shifted the calculus is a succession of policy reversals and threatened reforms under Labour, particularly around inheritance tax and capital gains tax, that have left wealthy individuals unable to plan with any confidence.
Elsa Littlewood, a tax partner at BDO, said that many of those considering departure would prefer to remain but feel unable to manage long-term wealth planning against such an unpredictable backdrop.
Since Labour took office, a string of high-profile departures has underlined the trend. Hedge fund manager Michael Platt relocated his family office to Dubai. Norwegian-born shipping magnate John Fredriksen put his £250m Chelsea townhouse on the market. Richard Gnodde, formerly Goldman Sachs’s most senior banker in Europe, moved to Milan, whilst brothers Ian and Richard Livingstone shifted their primary residence to Monaco. Indian billionaire Lakshmi Mittal, a British resident for nearly three decades, also moved to Dubai, as did Egyptian businessman Nassef Sawiris.
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The exodus began in earnest when Rachel Reeves, upon becoming Chancellor, abolished the non-domicile status, a long-standing tax regime that had made Britain attractive to internationally mobile wealth. A proposed 40 per cent inheritance tax on worldwide assets provoked such fierce opposition that it was subsequently scaled back, but by then confidence had already been dented.
Ms Reeves’s second Budget in November compounded the uncertainty. Having signalled possible increases to capital gains tax, she ultimately left CGT largely untouched but raised rates on savings and dividends and introduced what critics dubbed a “mansion tax” on higher-value properties, a set of measures that few had anticipated.
Maxwell Marlow, a director at the Adam Smith Institute, warned that the absence of any replacement scheme to attract wealthy investors’ capital and spending to Britain meant the broader population would bear the cost.
For Business Matters readers running or advising businesses that depend on access to high-net-worth capital, the message from BDO’s research is clear: it is not the size of the tax bill that is driving people away, but the inability to know what that bill will look like next year. Certainty, it seems, has become the scarcest commodity in British fiscal policy.
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Amy Ingham
Amy is a newly qualified journalist specialising in business journalism at Business Matters with responsibility for news content for what is now the UK’s largest print and online source of current business news.
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