Google allows fake reviews?

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Fake reviews

Google isn’t doing enough to stamp out fake reviews on its business listings, according to consumer group Which?. The group set up a fake company as part of an investigation, and managed to buy sham five-star ratings. It follows Amazon and TrustPilot who’ve both got into hot water over fake reviews, and are being threatened with legal action by the Competition and Markets Authority.

Thrifty February

Brits cut back on spending in February as the third national lockdown continued to bite, according to Barclaycard. Spending was 13.8% lower than in February 2020, although spending on groceries and other essentials rose slightly. Barclaycard also says consumer confidence in the economy is up at 28%, the highest since the pandemic began.

No post-lockdown boom?

It’ll take a few years for households to spend the extra money they’ve saved up during lockdown, according to Charlie Bean of the Office for Budget Responsibility. He’s not sure we’ll see the massive economic boom that’s been forecast. Higher earners have saved £180 billion over the last year - but they might not spend it all at once.

Steel jobs at risk

Greensill Capital, main lender to one of the UK biggest industrial groups, has fallen into administration. The collapse risks 5,000 jobs at Liberty Steel, which is owned by Sanjeev Gupta. In its filings, the lender said Mr Gupta’s business operations are in “financial difficulty” and defaulting on debt.