IT’S a bit gloomy out there, with fears of another recession and inflation soaring.
To stop us festering in a depressive Christmas fug, I’ve scraped the barrel of optimism for reasons to be cheerful about business in 2025.
LOWER INTEREST RATES: Admittedly, it’s unlikely rates will fall as quickly or as much as we hoped in the summer of last year.
But they should still go down, and it is estimated they should be around 4 per cent this time next year.
This will reduce borrowing costs for businesses, mortgage holders and credit card borrowers. It also means the government has to pay less interest on debt — a boon to strained public finances.
NO MORE ELECTIONS: The year half the world went to the polls will finally be over.
In theory, knowing who will govern provides more certainty for business — at least we know we’ve got Trump and Labour.
The incoming President has hinted the UK could be spared in his plans to impose new tariffs.
PUBLIC SPENDING BOOST: Though many firms are cutting investment after the Budget’s tax raid, the government will start fixing potholes and building new homes.
It is hoped this will trickle through supply chains to boost growth.
CINEMA COMEBACK: Upcoming films like Avatar 3, Bridget Jones 4, and Disney’s Snow White remake are hoped to lure us to cinemas and help the big screen’s revival.
ROLLS-ROYCE REVIVAL: The British manufacturing giant — not the car firm — is expected to mark its turnaround with the first dividend in four years in February.
The once flailing company has seen its share prices gain 92 per cent in the past year to just shy of £50billion.
CREDIT CRUNCH OVER: Natwest is due back in private hands following a 2008 bailout.
Selling off government stock has helped to boost the cash-strapped Treasury’s coffers.
GOOD WEEK: AMANDA Blanc, boss of Aviva, for striking a £3.7billion deal to buy Direct Line before the Christmas Day deadline.
BAD WEEK: RAMI Baitieh, chief executive of Morrisons, which suffered a loyalty card glitch in its peak trading week.
