Thought Id start this one going because its rather dead on this board at the moment and I suppose all my usual muckers are either at the Stella tennis event watching Dim Tim (lose again) or at Henly Regatta eating cucumber sandwiches (they wish,...NOT).

Anyway please feel free to just talk to yourself blast away and let it go on any company or subject you wish. Just wish Id thought of this one before.

cheers GF.

'Rate hike'

Food and non-alcoholic drinks prices rose overall, with vegetables, bread and chocolate among the foodstuffs going up in price.

Economists said that the price rises may strengthen the case for a rise in UK interest rates, which have been held at a record low of 0.5%, especially against a backdrop of rising house prices and falling unemployment.

"The news will further fuel expectations that the Bank of England will start raising interest rates sooner rather than later, with November looking the most likely month for the first hike," said Chris Williamson. chief economist at research firm Markit.

He added that fine June weather may have led retailers to hold back on summer clothing discounts.

'Painful'

Jeremy Cook, chief economist at currency company World First, said the rise in prices was "a big surprise".

"Inflation is now rising at its fastest rate since January, with clothing, food and transport contributing well," he said.

However, for people who have been living with below inflation wage increases, "the situation just got a little more painful," he said.

Wage rises began to match inflation in April, after six years of falling real wages.

But the latest figures show wages rising at less than 1%, well below the 1.9% rise in prices recorded in June, meaning household incomes are being squeezed again.

More arrears yes more arrears....what a mess this government is in.........

15 July 2014 Last updated at 13:07

More than half of tenants in arrears after benefit cut



More than half of tenants affected by a housing benefit cut in England were in arrears five months after the changes were introduced, a report says.

Some 59% of tenants - more than 300,000 - were in arrears, analysis for the Department for Work and Pensions found.

All going well and Conservative victory guaranteed!

smoking
i wonder what % of households now have a smoker in residence
of those households, i then wonder how many packets of fags are consumed each week - i think they're about £8.00 a pack now

Ohhhhhhh forget fags the poor have to have a little luxury, as you well know thay ALL have SKY TV and are on the most expensive package.

Lets face it Cyners when you are sat at home without a job doing nothing but consuming from the food banks what else can you do other than watch TV and knock back a crate of Gold label.

it was merely a question that did not require an aggressive answer, even if it was likely to draw one, and of course did so :-)

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reverting to the question of smoking

it is certainly noticeable that, throughout europe, smoking is much more prevalent than in uk especially among the younger generation(s)
i have little doubt that this is due to the much lower cost, so i'm delighted that there is such a thumping tax on tobacco

Hays,

What are you on?

Whatever it is give a little of it to Manuel he needs a little bit of an uplift!


Mind, the latter doesn't read this thread, or if he does can't remember it.

Another question.

How many elderly gentlemen and Manuels have cirrhosis of the liver by imbibing too many bottles of burgundy and cognac accompanying butter laden meals?

They should be ashamed of themselves.

not me that's for sure
btw, i'm sure high saturated fat content in your meal will not encourage cirrhosis, though it may do plenty of damage elsewhere

merely as an aside, i doubt if i consume 1/2 bottle spirits in a whole year, though i do occasionally use some in cooking

By the way cyners 72% of these people who are in arrears with rent etc etc, are working people with either one or both adults in full time work.

Id be a bit worried though If I was you, this couple you rent out to will be soon paid housing benefit direct, a moonlight flit could be on the cards.

no they won't ..... i know the parents, which is why i even allowed them in in the first place ..... that said, if they vacated, i think i'ld just sell the property

something that may be of interest to you ...... house prices in central london are now so high that the yield is probably only 2.5 - 3.0%, and that assumes no downtime

Good to see Liam Fox doesn't want to be associated with the new cabinet!

GF,

It is OK George's economic policies will bail us out.

It looks like the chickens are coming home to roost just before the next Election with Cameron in fortress tory land.

============

Fred looks to me like the Tory party is in a state of total confusion.

Back benches have already said on the sackings camoron cant think hes got away with it.

if tenants are behind with rents then take them from their benefits or wages
and no messing about .

private landlords may find it quite difficult to get attachment of earnings
sticky will know more, as i believe he's the local rachman-incarnate :-)

NO NO NO, that would leave them with no money for food.

they could always give up the ciggies!

What it needs Cyners is silly IDS to reverse his policy of paying rent to the claimant instead of mandatory payment to the landlord.

Its a pathetic scheme paying money direct to claimants one which you know I said would lead to massive problems and it as.

The problem really is though that working families have lost 20% of their disposable income under the coalition whilst the top 1000 people have doubled their incomes and assets under the coalition.

Its a re distribution of wealth back to the mass that is really required and the labour government will do this.