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Apple computer prices are rising in the UK

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Apple has increased the prices of its laptop and desktop computers in the UK by hundreds of pounds.

Last Thursday, Apple unveiled new Macbook Pro laptops, with prices similar to the US after currency conversion and addition of UK VAT.

But the company also increased the prices of its older computer products, including the three-year-old Mac Pro, by hundreds of pounds.

One analyst said consumers should expect further price increases.

“Apple has to recalibrate prices after significant currency fluctuations, and since the EU referendum, UK prices are out of sync with the dollar,” said Patrick O’Brien, analyst at the Verdict Retail consultancy.

“Apple has taken the hit up until now. While price increases won’t look good to the consumer, it’s difficult to blame Apple.

“Once you strip out UK sales tax (VAT) and the currency conversion, the new UK prices could still be viewed as fair.”

A number of technology companies have increased their prices in the UK, reflecting the lower value of the pound.

Apple’s least expensive laptop – the 13in Macbook Air, last updated in March 2015 – now costs £949, up from £849.

Its Mac Pro desktop computer – last updated in December 2013 – now costs £2,999, up from £2,499.

“Apple suggests product prices internationally on the basis of several factors, including currency exchange rates, local import laws, business practices, taxes, and the cost of doing business,” the company told the BBC.

“International prices are not always comparable to US suggested retail prices.”

Rival Microsoft has already announced UK price increases for some of its business services.

Earlier in October, the company said some service prices would go up by 22% in 2017, reflecting the pound’s weakened value against the euro.

“We periodically assess the impact of local pricing of our products and services to ensure there is reasonable alignment across the region and this change is an outcome of this assessment,” the company said.

Mr O’Brien said it was “inevitable” that more companies would increase the prices of products and services.

“Retailers are struggling with increased costs to import goods, and it’s something they cannot afford to swallow themselves,” he told the BBC.

“We will definitely see further price rises, so if people are in the market for big-ticket items such as laptops, it might be a wise idea to buy now rather than later.”

 

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– BBC

Shropshire Jobs continue to increase despite Unemployment Rise

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New Shropshire jobs are still being created despite an unemployment rise in the County.

Job Centre bosses insist that new Shropshire jobs are still being created, despite a third successive rise in unemployment in the county.

The number of people claiming various forms of unemployment benefit in Shropshire Council’s area now totals 1,970, while in Telford & Wrekin the figure is 1,730.

Last month the figures stood at 1,915 and 1,705 respectively, and the latest increase marks the third consecutive increase on the back of a long period of falling numbers.

In Powys, 780 people signed on in September, a fall from 800 the previous month.
But Gareth Niblett, from Bridgnorth’s Job Centre, said: “There’s no real main reason for the increases.

“We are not seeing lots of redundancies coming through. At the moment the only explanation is that the labour market is buoyant and people are coming on and off the register – what we are seeing is the general turnover.
“It’s disappointing that the numbers are going up but from our point of view there are lots of Shropshire jobs out there, and we are working with lots of employers.”

The numbers are now starting to be affected by Christmas employment, and a number of retailers around the county are now taking on additional staff.
Marks & Spencer is advertising 31 positions in Telford and nine in Bridgnorth, Southwater Event Group has 15 roles to fill in Telford, and a new Co-op store in Dawley has just seen 12 vacancies filled.

Shrewsbury too is seeing new positions coming onto the market, with around 80 vacancies being created across the retail market, including with Home Bargains, H Samuel, Thorntons, HMV and New Look.

Shropshire’s numbers reflect a changing national picture, and the unemployment total rose by 10,000 in the quarter to August, to 1.66 million, the official figures showed. In the West Midlands, that figure was 3,000 higher at 168,000 for the same period.

The UK claimant count, including those on Jobseeker’s Allowance, also increased last month – up by 700 to 776,400. It was the sixth time in the last seven months that the figure has increased.

But employment was up by 106,000 in the latest quarter to almost 32 million, the highest since records began in 1971.

Average earnings increased by 2.3 per cent in the year to August, down by 0.1 per cent on the previous month.

ONS statistician Nick Palmer said: “While there was also a small rise in the headline unemployment level, that was accompanied by more people actively seeking work.”

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– Shropshirestar

Unemployment falls in Shropshire

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Unemployment fell in Shropshire last month, as the jobs market in the county took a positive turn.

In three of the previous four months the number of people on different types of out-of-work benefits had risen, but it declined in both Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin during April.

Shropshire Council’s area saw the number of people on benefit drop from 1,945 in March to 1,870, whereas Telford’s figure was flat, with 1,650 people signing on in April compared to 1,655 in March.

In Powys, 790 people were on benefit, down from 875 in March.

The figures reflected a national decline in the number of people out of work, with the national claimant count down by 2,400 last month to 737,8000, although revised data showed the figure rose by 14,700 between February and March, the highest total since autumn 2011.

Job vacancies were down by 18,000 to 745,000, the first fall for almost a year.

Unemployment dipped by just 2,000 in the quarter to March to 1.69 million, a fall of 139,000 over the past year.

Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Stephen Crabb said: “These are another record-breaking set of figures, with more people in work than ever before and the unemployment rate is the lowest in a decade at 5.1 per cent.

“More people in work means that more families across the UK are benefiting from the security of a regular wage and the fulfilment that employment brings.

“But the job is not done, which is why our welfare reforms, such as Universal Credit, are making sure that it always pays to be in work.”

When broken down by parliamentary constituency, Ludlow has 395 people out of work, North Shropshire 745, and Shrewsbury & Atcham 670.

In Telford, 1,150 people are on benefits, with another 560 in The Wrekin, part of which is in Shropshire.

To find out how we can support you in finding a new job, please get in contact with one of our team members.

– Shropshirestar

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