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Salaries have been frozen and pay rises have been delayed ahead of the rise in employers’ National Insurance Contributions (NIC), which came into force on Sunday, a new survey has found. Nearly half of Scottish businesses (44%) have taken action on pay since the October Budget to prepare for t

Rettie has heralded "stability" for Scotland's housing market, forecasting a 3% average house price increase in 2025, driven by a slightly improved economic outlook. The property firm also anticipate a 2% rise in sales transactions.

Scottish retail sales experienced a slight decline in February 2025, according to the latest figures. Total sales decreased by 0.4% compared to the previous year, although when adjusted for inflation, there was a modest 0.3% increase. Like-for-like sales remained flat.

More than two thirds (68%) of Scottish employers expect costs to rise due to measures in the Employment Rights Bill, with over a fifth (22%) likely to make redundancies as a result, according to research. The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) is calling on the UK governmen

Equity investment levels in Scotland’s smaller businesses grew in 2024, bouncing back from a challenging 2023, according to new research from the British Business Bank. The Bank’s Small Business Finance Markets 2024/25 report found that during the first three quarters of 2024 the investm

UK inflation climbed to 3% in January, exceeding forecasts and presenting a challenge for the Bank of England (BoE). The Office for National Statistics reported the annual rate of price growth was up from 2.5% in December and higher than the 2.8% predicted by economists polled by Reuters. This figur

Scotland's high-end property market has demonstrated resilience in 2024, with sales of homes exceeding £1 million increasing despite political and tax hurdles, according to Savills. The market recorded a total of 466 residential transactions, up from 454 in 2023. This growth is driven by stron

Scotland's labour market shows resilience despite ongoing economic uncertainty, according to the latest figures for September to November 2024. The employment rate rose by 1% over the quarter to 74.1%, while the unemployment rate fell by 0.2% to 3.8%. Both figures are slightly below the UK averages.

In November 2024, there were 114 company insolvencies registered in Scotland, 5% higher than the number in November 2023. The total number of company insolvencies was comprised of 55 CVLs, 54 compulsory liquidations and five administrations. There were no CVAs or receivership appointments.

Property consultancy Galbraith is urging the Scottish government not to increase Land & Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT) in this week’s budget, amid signs that the tax is having a dampening effect on market activity. The firm reports that the rates of tax imposed in Scotland are holding ba

The statistics in Scotland’s fintech sector are impressive. The industry has only realised its significant potential since the 2010s with the advent of mobile technology, cloud computing and the big data revolution – but is now a part of our lives through daily engagement with open banki

Scotland’s two largest cities have both improved their position in the latest Z/Yen Global Green Finance Index, underlining Scotland’s global reputation and potential in green finance. Edinburgh climbed five places to 19th, while Glasgow jumped eight places to 36th London also retained i

Edinburgh office prices are likely to rise in the coming years due to a "quiet construction pipeline", property services firm JLL has said.

The property market across Edinburgh, the Lothians, Fife, and the Borders experienced a strong third quarter in 2024, with average selling prices rising by 4.9% year-on-year to reach £290,259. The City of Edinburgh saw its average selling price rise 4.7% to £307,850, making it the most e