Shorouk Express 
Major lenders joins the cash offer war in bid to win your current account
Lloyds, Natwest, Nationwide.
All three have launched cash switch offers in the past few days, which means they will give you money if you move your current account to them.
The amounts are slightly different and so too are additional perks you get – make sure if you’re considering a switch you choose the one which gives you the best overall deal for your needs, not just the most money up front.
Lloyds also give you an extra annual perk like Disney plus or a coffee shop discount; with Natwest you can add an extra £36 across the year with one account type; Nationwide will share profits with their members (customers), often £100 a year recently.
Others like first direct, Co-op Bank and more are also putting £175 plus other perks on the table including access to much higher interest rate savings accounts – that’s 7 per cent in the case of first direct!
Make sure you choose carefully and always read terms to ensure you’re eligible.
Karl Matchett18 September 2025 08:07
Starbucks employees suing firm over dress code change
Starbucks is facing a legal challenge from their own employees in the US, who say a new dress code came without reimbursements or garments.
A class action lawsuit is a possible route after the company switched up the dress code in an effort to create a “warmer” and more familiar brand.
One employee called the manner of the change “tone deaf” – more details here.
Karl Matchett18 September 2025 07:42
Interest rates: All the key details
Today’s big focus will be the Bank of England deciding on whether to cut interest rates or not. Here’s what you need to know:
When: At 12 noon we get their announcement
What: The nine MPC members vote to cut, hold or raise rates
Last time: In August rates were cut down to the current 4% level
This time: Experts predict no cut today – here’s the detail, reasons and what comes next.
Karl Matchett18 September 2025 07:24
Amazon announces above inflation pay rise for staff
Online giant Amazon has announced an above inflation pay rise for its employees.
From the end of the month the minimum starting pay will rise by 5.9% to £14.30-an-hour or by 5.5% to £15.30-an-hour depending on location.
Annual salaries for frontline employees will start at a minimum of £29,744 and up to £31,824 depending on location.
The increase will affect tens of thousands of staff across the UK, said Amazon, adding that its minimum starting pay will have risen by 43% since 2022.
Karl Matchett18 September 2025 07:16
Yesterday’s data confirmed UK inflation remained unchanged last month at 3.8 per cent, but consumers are still facing rising food and drink costs on some of the most popular everyday items like coffee and chocolate.
Food and drink price rises have accelerated for the fifth month in a row, in another hit to the poorest households, with the chancellor admitting that many people are “finding it tough”.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) announced on Wednesday the rate of Consumer Prices Index (CPI) was 3.8 per cent in August, the same as July. This was the level that most economists had been expecting.
Among food items, beef and veal has had the biggest annual rise in price, up by a quarter (24.9 per cent) over the past 12 months. Butter is next in line, up 18.9 per cent, while both chocolate and coffee have risen 15.4 per cent in the space of a year. More details on yesterday’s figures here.
Karl Matchett18 September 2025 07:07
Interest rates live – Business and Money, 17 September
Morning all and welcome to our latest live blog across the business and finance worlds.
Today we’ll catch up on stock market matters, any further inflation reaction and the latest affecting workers at Jaguar Land Rover.
Our primary focus though is the 12 noon announcement from the Bank of England over interest rates.
Karl Matchett18 September 2025 06:58
