Economy

Q How would you describe the current state of the British economy?
Q And what state do you think the British economy will be in, in 5 years' time?

Q The things people can buy and do -- their housing, furniture, food, cars, recreation and travel -- make up their standard of living. How satisfied or dissatisfied do you feel about your standard of living at present?

Business confidence is expected to deteriorate further over the next 12 months, according to the latest National Business Survey conducted by the leading independent research company Ipsos on behalf of England's Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) and Invest Northern Ireland.

More British business people are earning six figure salaries despite the credit crunch and fears of a recession. The Ipsos British Business Survey (BBS) found that 14% of the business people surveyed now earn more than 163100,000, an increase from 9% in 2005.

There has been a major fall in financial confidence over the past few months for those living outside Dublin, whilst confidence amongst those living in the capital has remained static. According to research from Ipsos, compared to the first three months of 2008, the proportion thinking their personal circumstances will improve over the next year has fallen by 10% amongst those living outside Dublin (from 33% to 23%), whilst remaining broadly the same within Dublin (falling from 42% to 39%).

Business confidence across the nation's businesses has shown a marked downturn over the past year according to the latest National Business Survey conducted by the leading research company Ipsos on behalf of England's Regional Development Agencies.

This report provides the findings from a project looking at high earning people's attitudes to wealth and taxation in the UK today. It is part of a larger study on modern social attitudes to wealth and taxation conducted by Polly Toynbee and David Walker.

With huge media and consumer interest in climate change and the environment more widely, it is impossible not to have noticed that supermarkets have been upping their game, with a number of big players making bold and no doubt challenging commitments.

Technology and more time off is top of Christmas wish list

Three quarters (72%) of UK businesses are confident about the future prospects in the New Year according to a Christmas poll from The Orange SMS Business Jury. New equipment or technology and extra holidays are top of the UK's business wish list for Christmas this year, however six respondents (2%) did ask for a new PA!