MAY TRADE NEWS Warehouse complex proposed for Peterborough Local authorities urged to help businesses improve recycling Business leaders lose faith in the Labour government Sole traders join forces on the Isle of Wight FPB calls for government to cancel fuel duty increase Consumers get better protection from rogue traders Health and beauty sector will grow despite economic slowdown Credit crunch hits wholesale and retail businesses' cash flows CBI reports manufacturers expect to increase prices Businesses attack new agency worker rules Credit crunch 'has not stopped owners selling their businesses' BRC stresses UK firms do not use exploitative suppliers OFT targets retailers who claim to be closing Carbon Trust urged to support small firms London business buck trend as sales increase Bank charges 'could harm small business Small businesses 'could be hurt by extended flexible working rules' BRC reports gloomy sales figures Businesses urged to embrace rail network Business pessimistic about economic future Fuel duty rises 'should be postponed to help businesses and consumers' Report calls for better government support of small businesses Businesses asked for bribes to win contracts Small businesses hit by staff absences Small businesses 'turn to older employees to plug skills gap' Businesses warned of continuing economic slowdown Tories pledge to support small suppliers and local businesses Continuity plans 'vital for small firms' Manufacturers force to pass rising costs on to customers Oxfordshire Retailers Flex Their Muscle FSB steps up campaign to protect local suppliers Small firms 'are turning to bridging loans to maintain cash flows' Government looks to help business by streamlining consumer laws Business disappointed by interest rate hold Shop prices 'only rising slowly' Postal competition 'has not helped small wholesalers' Small firms are turning to bridging loans to maintain cash flows South-west's roads 'need to be improved to help wholesalers' Retailers see April increase in shoppers Government urged to involve small firms in tax forum Good online retail practice satisfies customers Small retailers urged to embrace gift card schemes Commission inquiry not doing enough for small retailers Hornby buys model car maker Corgi Trade News Archive May 08 April 08 March 08 February 08 January 08 Subscribe to our newsletter   Go to The Wholesaler UK Directory 19th May 2008 Bank charges 'could harm small businesses' If banks decide to increase charges for small business, many of these firms will struggle to survive, an industry expert has said. George Derbyshire, chief executive of the National Federation of Enterprise Agencies (NFEA) was commenting after it emerged that RBS plans to introduce a monthly charge of £10 and transactional charges on its Business Banking Direct account. Mr Derbyshire explained that the price was modest but added that many small firms operated on extremely tight margins and said that any rises in costs could have damaging effects. "This is just one of a number of cost increases small businesses are seeing - transport, energy and utilities for example - all of which will make life more difficult, especially at a time when consumers are starting to feel the pinch," he explained. "No doubt the other banks are watching carefully how RBS customers will react. At present the other banks have this competitive advantage over RBS: if they move to follow, they will lose their competitive advantage but gain some revenue." Recently, Lloyds TSB reported that businesses are not confident about the future of the UK economy.   (c) 2008 Adfero Ltd.