Friday newspaper round-up: Energy price hikes, house prices, Three

This year has proved the worst ever for the number of price rises energy suppliers have inflicted on consumers. Energy firms announced a total of 57 price increases in 2018 compared with 15 last year, according to new analysis. Some of the challenger firms upped tariffs as many as three times across the year and several of the big six that dominate the market raised them twice. Altogether, an average of £74 was added to annual dual fuel bills. – Guardian

The seaside town of Ryde on the Isle of Wight, Smethwick in the West Midlands and Diss in Norfolk were the top towns for property growth in 2018, with prices up as much as 10% in a year when house price inflation across the UK fell to 1%. The biggest price fall was in Alnwick, Northumberland, best known for its castle used as a location in the Harry Potter films, where values dropped by 6.6%. Biggleswade in Bedfordshire, Nantwich in Cheshire and Eastleigh in Hampshire all recorded price falls of 5% or more. – Guardian

Britons are switching jobs in record numbers, analysis of official figures shows, as the tight labour market helps workers secure higher pay. More than one in every 40 workers moved to a new job in the three months to September, amounting to 860,000 people giving up one position to take another role. – Telegraph

One of Britain's largest mobile providers is facing growing pressure to review its links with Huawei after the UK defence secretary voiced "grave concerns" over use of the controversial Chinese company's equipment in the roll-out of 5G telecom networks across the UK, amid espionage fears. Three, a subsidiary of Hong Kong conglomerate Hutchison Holdings, signed a deal with Huawei in June to act as a key supplier for a £2bn project to build 5G networks in the UK. Hutchison is part of a sprawling international business empire controlled by Li Ka-Shing, Hong Kong's richest man. - Telegraph

The government is considering new laws to protect consumers who lose money on items they have ordered when a business collapses. The move, led by Greg Clark, the business secretary, is intended to give shoppers greater peace of mind when buying products online, purchasing gift vouchers or participating in payment schemes such as Christmas savings clubs after a string of high street insolvencies that have left people out of pocket. – The Times