Final countdown to inauguration

The 1-minute read to get the money news you need with expert adviser commentary.

Hey Joe

Biden will be sworn in today as the 46th President of the United States, with Kamala Harris taking the oath to become Vice President. The ceremony will be guarded by 25,000 troops, amid fears of violence after the Capitol riots earlier this month. Trump will not attend. He’ll leave the White House for the last time - after spending his last day in office issuing pardons to over 140 people.

December inflation

Inflation rose to 0.6% in December, despite much of the country living under tier 4 rules. It’s still far below the Bank of England’s target of 2%. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) says there was a hike in travel prices as people rushed to beat the Christmas restrictions, which led to the small increase.

Job losses

Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) people bore the brunt of the job losses brought about by the pandemic. Among people from BAME backgrounds, the employment rate dropped 5.3% in the year to September 2020. The figure for white workers? 0.2%. That huge gap exists because systemic racism pushes people of colour into less secure or part time work, according to the General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress (TUC).

Grants for new freelancers?

Workers who recently became self-employed might be able to access the final round of government support* in February. 500,000 freelancers who are filing their first tax return this January have been excluded from support so far. But campaigners are pushing for inclusion in the last grant payment.

Tiers streaming

Netflix has hit 200 million subscribers, with new viewers streaming into the platform. Hit programmes like Bridgerton, Thw Queen’s Gambit, and The Crown have helped to spur on growth during lockdown.

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