Trade, City of London, sterling and EU markets
GDP is the UK’s most closely watched economic barometer, and the latest figures show growth of just 0.1% — enough to avoid recession, but far from reassuring. Here’s what the numbers mean and why they matter.
Tipping culture imported from the US is now showing up at UK coffee shops, nail salons, and sandwich counters — and millions of Britons are not happy about it. From guilt-inducing tablet screens to murky tip-pooling practices, the backlash is growing fast.
A prominent economist who turned down a Downing Street advisory role is calling for reform of the triple lock pension guarantee, warning its £110 billion annual cost is unsustainable. His proposal targets the 2.5 percent floor and higher-income pensioners specifically.
UK inflation surged to 3.4% in May, its highest point in four months, after a steep rise in household energy bills caught markets off guard. The jump adds pressure on the Bank of England to keep interest rates on hold for longer.
A major Institute for Government report marks a decade since the Brexit vote by tallying its economic toll — and the figures point to a GDP gap that’s still widening. Britain’s trade, investment and productivity have all underperformed, but some corners of the economy have proved tougher than expected.
Hannah Stephenson counted more than 40 red bites after a single night at a Travelodge hotel. She says the experience has left her embarrassed, self-conscious, and reluctant to wear short sleeves in public.
Britain’s competition regulator has given the green light to one of the biggest media mergers in years. The decision came only after Paramount agreed to a series of binding commitments that reshaped the original deal.
Andy Burnham’s growing political influence is raising urgent questions for the UK’s £60 billion impact economy. Social enterprises and mission-led organisations are asking what his leadership model could mean at national scale.
Ten years after the Brexit vote, the Institute for Government estimates the UK economy is 4 to 5 percent smaller than it would have been inside the EU. The costs, from lost trade to weaker investment, are proving stubbornly persistent.
A massive explosion was caught on camera as more than 100 firefighters battled a huge blaze at industrial units on an Essex farm. Dramatic footage shows the moment the fire surged, with smoke visible for miles around.
