Tuesday newspaper round-up: Global trade, Trump-Powell relations, power pylons, parking fines
Rachel Reeves will fly to Washington this week to argue for global free trade in the face of Donald Trump’s punitive tariffs, amid continued international economic turbulence. The UK chancellor will use the spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund, which is attended by top finance ministers and central bankers, to make the case that free trade is in both British and global interests. - Guardian
American equities fell sharply in early trading and the dollar weakened as investors digested rising uncertainty over the future of US economic policy amid President Trump’s repeated attacks on the chairman of the Federal Reserve. Last Thursday Trump said the “termination” of Jerome Powell as Federal Reserve chairman “cannot come fast enough”, after Powell raised concerns about the impact of tariffs on the US economy. - The Times
Pylons have knocked up to £100,000 off the value of nearby homes across England and Wales, according to new research. Findings shared with The Telegraph by property consultancy Allsop show the average-sized home in England and Wales within 500 metres of a pylon sells for around £8,000 less than the typical price for the area. In the worst case, the penalty can run to almost six figures. - Telegraph
Thousands of drivers in England are being sent demands for up to £170 from private parking companies because of faulty ticket machines, campaigners have said. Many private car parks require motorists to input their vehicle registration when purchasing a ticket from a machine, which is supposed to ensure they do not receive a parking fine. - Guardian
More than eight million people will be dragged on to, or forced higher up, the tax ladder over the next five years as a result of successive governments freezing tax thresholds, official forecasters say. In data published alongside its economic forecast at the March spring statement, the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) predicted that, by the 2029-30 financial year, an extra 8.3 million people will be hit by so-called fiscal drag as their pay rises. - The Times