prices

Housing market outlook softens post buy-to-let boom

UK house price inflation is set for a slowdown over the coming months as the impact of new stamp duty changes, the EU referendum and the forthcoming devolved elections combine to create a climate of uncertainty in the country’s housing market, the latest survey from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has revealed.

These factors have been most strongly felt in central...

Dairy farmers still struggling with prices

Farmers’ leaders in the South West are predicting more tough times ahead for the region’s dairy industry.

The recent announcement of further cuts means farm gate milk prices are likely to remain below the cost of production for some time to come, putting many farming families under increased pressure.

In the South West this is exacerbated by having to deal with the financial...

Stamp price rises at end of month

The Royal Mail is reminding people that, from the 30th March, the price of first and second class postage stamps will increase by 1p each. This means first class postage stamps will be 63p and second class postage stamps will be 54p.

As part of these changes, there is also an implication to the cost of sending a large letter first class from previous levels meaning these too will...

Land prices continue to rise in SW

Farmland demand continued to outpace supply in the final six months of 2014, with land prices in the South West rising again to reach £8,438* per acre, according to the latest RICS/RAU Rural Land Market Survey H2 2014.

Arable land in the South West is currently more attractive than pasture, with the price of arable land hitting £9,250* per acre, with pasture at £7,625*.

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Plymouth taxi drivers see reduced fees

Plymouth’s taxi drivers will be paying less next year to be on the city’s roads, thanks to a cut in fees.

Taxi drivers will pay just over £100 less for a vehicle licence and £96 less for a three-year driver’s licence as a result of the Council’s review of its fees that cover the cost of regulating taxis. Private hire drivers will be paying around 10 per cent less for their vehicle and...

Commuters rail fares over £5,000 a year

Some Commuters could see their travel costs rise to over £5,000 a year as the rail fares increase nationwide.

Industry organisation, the Rail Delivery Group, have said that increase is the smallest increase in the last four years but campaigners have said the fares are still rising three times faster than average incomes.

On average UK rail fares are set to rise by 2.8% but...

Fears that the housing market recovery could "overheat"

As the South West housing market continues to show signs of economic recovery commentators have warned of the danger of the market may “overheat”.

A new report by the National Housing Federation (NHF) argues that “whilst economic growth has returned to many areas, this has caused the already over-stretched housing market there to overheat.”

In their “Home Truths” report they...

"Cut the Big Six energy companies down to size, George" says consumer champion

As the bosses of the UK's six biggest energy companies are called in front of the Energy and Climate Change Committee (ECCC), to justify recent price rises; the consumer champion Which? has launched a campaign to persuade the Chancellor of the Exchequer to take action on rising energy bills in his Autumn Statement.

Which? said: "With almost eight in ten people worried about rising...