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  • Today's business and finance round up 29th October 2021

Today's business and finance round up 29th October 2021

💼Budget aftermath

29th October 2021

Good morning If you’ve been procrastinating clearing out your home then this might give you the inspiration you need. A home clear out in Northumberland revealed a shocking discovery. Its owner was about to throw away a bag of costume jewellery she bought over many years at car boot sales before a neighbour suggested getting it valued. Unbeknownst to her there was a 34-carat diamond inside thought to be worth £2m.

Today's stories

  • Budget aftermath – Middle and high income households worse off under gov plans

  • Groceries in 10 minutes – Tesco teams up with Gorillas delivery app

ECONOMYMiddle and high income households worse off under gov plans

What’s going on?Wednesday’s budget will raise household tax bills by £3,000, according to analysis by the Resolution Foundation, an independent thinktank.

Why is this important?

TThe fallout from Wednesday’s Autumn Budget continued as analysis of the government’s tax and spending plans revealed which groups in society would be better or worse off.Research by the Resolution Foundation concluded that rising inflation and taxation will stagnate household incomes in the years to come.The Foundation said that by 2027 taxes will have increased by £3,000 per household since Boris Johnson became prime minister in 2019.The changes to Universal Credit, reduced Alcohol and Fuel Duties and higher Council Tax, Income Tax and National Insurance – will boost the income of the poorest 20% in the country by almost 3%. Conversely middle-income households will see their incomes fall by 2% and the richest 20% will see a 3% fall in income. The budget included tax increases of £16.7bn a year by 2026-27, the biggest rise since 1993. By that time Brits will pay tax equivalent to 36.2% of UK economy, the highest percentage since the early 1950s.TakeawayThe budget brought good news for the economy as a whole – a more optimistic economic outlook meant the Chancellor could spend more and borrow less. However the impact on personal finances is not necessarily as positive. Although low income households will see their incomes rise, middle and high earners will bear the brunt of higher taxation.

RETAILTesco teams up with Gorillas delivery app

Tesco, Britain’s largest supermarket, has launched a pilot scheme to provide shopping in 10 minutes with the help of German delivery app Gorillas.Gorillas will set up mini warehouses at Tesco stores with a range of 2,000 items. Staff will pick, pack and deliver to customers, according to the supermarket, 'in the time it takes to pre-heat the oven'. The first site will be in Thornton Heath, South London and will be expanded to four yet to be confirmed locations across the capital in the coming weeks.Tesco is the latest in a long line of supermarkets pairing up with delivery apps to serve shoppers in a hurry:

  • Morrisons and the Co-op have both teamed up with Deliveroo to deliver their products in as little as 30 minutes.

  • Asda partnered with Uber Eats to enable shoppers to get their items delivered in around 30 minutes.

  • Sainsbury's offers 60 minutes deliveries through its Chop Chop app.

The pandemic accelerated the trend for home deliveries as the high street shutdown and people worked remotely. Numerous grocery shopping apps have popped up almost overnight including Weezy, Zapp and Getir as well as Gorillas, which are operating across cities including London, Manchester and Birmingham. Founded during lockdown less than 18 months ago, Gorillas operates in nine countries. It announced last week it had secured nearly $1bn in its latest funding round from backers including takeaway delivery firm Delivery Hero.

Stat of the day

Cop26, the global environmental summit, will open on Sunday in Glasgow, with more than 25,000 delegates and 120 world leaders

Other stories to keep you in the loop

  • All countries removed from the UK’s red list

  • Lloyds profits boom on back of Covid mortgage market

  • London rents back to pre-Covid levels as workers return, say Foxtons

  • Shell pledges to halve emissions by 2030 as it reports lower profits

  • Facebook unveils new name

  • US Democrats considers billionaire tax

  • US GDP growth slows sharply in Q3 as consumers downshift spending

  • Rent the Runway goes public with $1.7bn valuation

Interesting links from around the web

  • Is professional hazing ever ok?

  • How to get a refund on almost anything

  • How the pandemic was a wake up call for millennial women hadn’t invested before

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