































Home > > Small firms hit by rising prices
29 June 2010
Small firms have experienced the sharpest quarterly hike in costs for five years, according to a new report.
The Business Inflation Guide, which is produced by Warwick Business School and insurance company More Th>n Business, recorded an inflation rate of 2.7 per cent in firms' costs between January and March this year, the highest since 2005.
Vehicle maintenance and tax saw the largest increase (7 per cent), with fuel costs rising by 6 per cent and office equipment by almost 6 per cent.
Manufacturing firms suffered the main impact of the rises as they saw their costs climb by 3 per cent in the first quarter of the year.
Stephen Roper, Stephen Roper, professor of enterprise at the Centre for Small and Medium Sized Enterprises at Warwick Business School, said: "Economic recovery looks set to take longer than expected and small businesses are still facing a challenge in getting financial support from banks.
"Subsequently, they are being forced to push up prices for their customers in order to absorb rising costs."
As many as six million people may have paid incorrect amounts of tax and national insurance through the PAYE system.
The government has announced the introduction of its national insurance contribution holiday for start-up firms in certain areas of the UK.
The government is likely to axe this year’s pre-Budget Report, according to press reports.
Government plans to simplify pensions tax relief have won qualified backing from the Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT).
Smaller firms are being encouraged to examine their pay systems to make sure they are not breaching the law on equal pay.
Employers who use HM Revenue and Customs’ employer CD-ROM with which to manage their payrolls are being advised to update it as soon as possible.
The UK’s debt compared with gross domestic product could almost double from its 2007 levels by 2015, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has said.
Consumers believe that the forthcoming VAT increase will add more to shop prices than it actually will, a new study has claimed.
Harrison Young,
First Floor,
1 Gatton Road,
London
SW17 0EX
TEL: 0208 767 0151
FAX: 020 8767 5359
Click to email us
Harrison Young is a trading style of Ashley Ross Limited, Registered in England no. 05717229 and whose registered office is at 1 Gatton Road, London SW17 0EX.and is registered as Auditors by The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants. Read our Disclaimer.
