There are more job vacancies now than there were before the pandemic, according to the Official for National Statistics (ONS).

ONS figures also show that unemployment is now falling after a year of job losses.

The number of open jobs between April to June 2021 was 77,500 above its pre-pandemic level in January to March 2020, says the ONS.

There were 862,000 job vacancies between April and June, the highest figure in 15 months.

Meanwhile, unemployment fell slightly between March and May 2021, according to official figures, with an increase in both the employment and the number of hours worked.

However, the UK's unemployment rate is currently 4.8%, still 1% higher than before the pandemic began, the ONS added.

Matthew Percival, Director for People and Skills at the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), said: 'Vacancies exceeding pre-COVID levels is a further sign of demand returning and employers creating jobs.

'Yet businesses' ability to meet this demand, and support the recovery, is being challenged by staff shortages. As COVID cases rise, firms are facing the double difficulty of hiring workers and more employees self-isolating.'

Retail sales bounced during the spring with the quarter from April to June showing record growth, according to the latest figures from the British Retail Consortium (BRC).

Sales in the second quarter of 2021 rose 28.4% from a year previously and were up 10.4% from 2019.

June's sunny weather and the Euro 2020 football tournament helped to boost trade, the BRC said.

But the BRC warned that many retailers still faced 'strong headwinds' as the UK economy recovers from the pandemic.

In June, fashion and footwear did well, while the start of the Euro 2020 football championship provided a boost for TVs, snack food and beer.

BRC Chief Executive Helen Dickinson said: 'The second quarter of 2021 saw exceptional growth as the gradual unlocking of the UK economy encouraged a release of pent-up demand built up over previous lockdowns.

'In June, while growth in food sales began to slow, non-food sales were bolstered by growing consumer confidence and the continued unleashing of consumer demand.

'With many people taking staycations, or cheaper UK-based holidays, many have found they have a little extra to spend at the shops, with strong growth in-store in June.'

The government has been urged to provide more clarity and further guidance after it confirmed that most lockdown restrictions will end in England on 19 July.

Business groups said that their members welcomed the reopening, which brings great relief.

However, as businesses begin living with and managing COVID-19 they asked the government to do more.

Claire Walker, Co-Executive Director of the British Chambers of Commerce, said: 'Business leaders aren't public health experts and cannot be expected to know how best to operate when confusing and sometimes contradictory advice is coming from official sources.

'Without clear guidance there?could be real uncertainty on how companies should operate from 19 July and what they should be doing to keep staff and customers safe.'??

Mike Cherry, National Chair of the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), said: 'We want all small businesses and their customers to feel safe in how they shop and operate, and this includes allowing small businesses the space to make the right decisions about their premises. 

'We cannot allow removing legal guidance to create a free for all, with any voluntary guidance ignored, which is why it is vital that clarity around the new state of play is given immediately.'

Matthew Fell, Chief UK Policy Director at the Confederation of British Industry, said: 'The government can play a pivotal role in setting new norms, starting with fresh workplace guidance, encouraging the use of public transport and continuing support for workplace testing.'

An historic deal for a global corporate tax rate of at least 15% has been agreed by 130 countries, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has announced.

According to the OECD, the agreement will ensure an extra $150 billion in taxes is paid by large corporations annually.

It will also mean that $100 billion of profits will be reallocated each year to countries in which the corporations earn profits, but where they are not currently taxed.

The OECD plans to have the rules in place next year, to be implemented in 2023.

It has spent more than a decade negotiating the two-pillar package, pushing for multinational enterprises to pay tax where they operate and earn profits.

The OECD said it would add 'much-needed certainty and stability to the international tax system'.

Mathias Cormann, Secretary-General of the OECD, said: 'After years of intense work and negotiations, this historic package will ensure that large multinational companies pay their fair share of tax everywhere.

'This package does not eliminate tax competition, as it should not, but it does set multilaterally agreed limitations on it. It also accommodates the various interests across the negotiating table, including those of small economies and developing jurisdictions.'

Full details of the fifth Self-employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) grant, including a new turnover test which determines the level of the grant, have now been published by HMRC.

The key change from the previous SEISS grant is that the level of the grant depends on whether turnover has dropped by more or less than 30%.

The fifth grant is 80% of three months' average trading profits, capped at £7,500 for those whose turnover has reduced by 30% or more. Those with a turnover reduction of less than 30% will receive a grant based on 30% of three months' average trading profits, capped at £2,850.

To be eligible for the grant, an individual must be self-employed or a member of a partnership. They must have traded in the tax year 2019/2020 and submitted their tax return on or before 2 March 2021, and also have traded in the tax year 2020/21.

They must be currently trading but be impacted by reduced demand due to coronavirus (COVID-19), or have been trading but are temporarily unable to do so due to COVID-19.

Claimants will need to provide two turnover figures during the claims process: one from the pandemic period and an earlier reference period.

For further details please see HMRC's guidance.

The average loss from pension scams has reached £50,949 this year, according to the latest figures from Action Fraud.

That is more than double the typical figure of £23, 689 reported last year.

Action Fraud said the losses in each case ranged from less than £1,000 to as much as £500,000, and the real figures could be higher as many scams go unreported.

Mark Steward, the Executive Director of Enforcement and Market Oversight at the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), said: 'Fraudsters will seek out every opportunity to exploit innocent people, no matter how much they have saved.

'Check the status of a firm before making a financial decision about your pension by visiting the FCA register. Make sure you only get advice from a firm authorised by the FCA to provide advice, before making any changes to your pension arrangements'

The FCA highlighted five common warning signs:

• Being offered a free pension review out of the blue
• Being offered guaranteed higher returns
• Being offered help to release cash from your pension, even though you are under 55
• High-pressure sales tactics - scammers may try to pressure you with 'time-limited offers' or send a courier to your door to wait while you sign documents
• Unusual investments which tend to be unregulated and high-risk.

More information on pension scams is available from the FCA.

The UK's businesses borrowed a total of £79.3 billion from the government's coronavirus (COVID-19) lending schemes, according to official figures.

In total over 1.6 million loans were taken out under the Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS), Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) and the Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CLBILS).

The three schemes all closed on 31 March 2021 and the government has now published the final figures. The data shows that £47.4 billion was borrowed through the BBLS, £26.4 billion through the CBILS and £5.6 billion through the CLBILS.

It also shows that the loans were evenly distributed across the whole of the UK.

Catherine Lewis La Torre, Chief Executive Officer of the British Business Bank, said: 'The COVID-19 loan schemes have been an important part of the government's response to the pandemic, providing businesses with much-needed breathing space and reducing cashflow concerns for many.

'We're pleased to see evidence that they have helped smaller businesses right across the UK and look forward to helping more businesses to prosper and grow as we look towards economic recovery.'

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said he expects the final stage of England's coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdown roadmap to go ahead on 19 July.

This will see the end of legal requirements regarding face masks and social distancing, as well as working from home guidance. Business groups have welcomed the announcement, but said questions remain.

Shevaun Haviland, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said: 'Businesses in England still do not have the full picture they desperately need to plan for unlocking.

'Without clear guidance for businesses around the new proposals, there could be real uncertainty on how they should operate going forward and what they should be doing to keep staff and their customers safe.'

Tony Danker, Director General of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), said: 'Critical now will be to build both customer and employee confidence in living with the virus. This will require businesses to continue putting safety at the heart of their approach as they have since the start of the COVID crisis and government providing a vital role in supporting employers through guidance and advice.'

Derek Cribb, CEO of the Association of Independent Professionals and the Self-Employed (IPSE), said: 'The full reopening of the economy is very welcome, but because of the gaps in support and sheer damage to self-employment, this must not be the end of government's involvement.'

A survey carried out by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) has revealed that the aftermaths of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and Brexit have caused a 'huge rise in costs' for UK businesses.

The survey showed that 70% of companies surveyed are considering hiking prices over the coming year. In addition, 62% of businesses reported an increase in customer demand over the past three months.

The survey also found that 92% of businesses in the manufacturing sector are paying increased prices for the supplies they require.

Additionally, 90% of businesses who import most of their supplies from outside of the UK revealed that they are being charged more.

Iain Wright, Managing Director of Reputation and Influence at the ICAEW, said: 'Our members – who work in businesses in every UK region and economic sector – are reporting long lead times for raw materials and components, disruptions to supply chains because transport companies are unable to recruit drivers, plus delays at the border as our trading arrangements with Europe have changed.

'Many businesses who have experienced cost increases are now planning to increase their prices as their ability to meet the post-lockdown surge in demand is constrained by supply hold-ups and associated cost pressures.'