NUMBER OF NEW HOMES LISTED RISES FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 12 MONTHS

The number of new homes listed for sale in Britain rose in March for the first time in 12 months, figures published by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) show (The Times). Simon Rubinsohn, chief economist at RICS, said that the housing market had been resilient despite growing concerns about the wider economy and the impact of the war in Ukraine on the cost of living in the UK (Reuters).

CITY FIRMS INCREASE RECRUITMENT

Banks, brokers and insurers recruited for 73 per cent more roles in the first three months of this year compared to the same period in 2021, according to recruiters Morgan McKinley (City A.M). 11,000 jobs were advertised in the first quarter, the highest level in two years (Bloomberg). The number of job seekers rose 51 per cent, with 22,195 looking for new jobs. 

NEWS IN BRIEF

Research has found that the cost of private rentals in Britain has risen at record rates, with areas such as Manchester increasing by 19 per cent (The Guardian).

Interest rates on student loans are expected to rise as high as 12 per cent this autumn (The Times).

Research by AJ Bell has found that investors have turned to volatile shares as savers search for returns that can exceed inflation (The Telegraph).

A government scheme allowing people to claim up to £10,000 for flood resilience measures will launch next week (BBC News).