UK SMEs brace for inflation strain as confidence slips October 22, 2025 Small business (SME) optimism is faltering as sticky inflation, labour shortages and rising borrowing costs pile pressure on firms already stretched by thin margins and political uncertainty. Small business confidence dipped in September, with recent Opinium polling suggesting that UK entrepreneurs are increasingly uneasy about the months ahead. The latest figures from the National Federation [...]
Tories slam Bank of England for ‘outrageous’ internship scheme October 22, 2025 The Bank of England is facing criticism over an internship scheme open only to candidates of “black or mixed black heritage”, with Tory frontbenchers labelling the approach “outrageous.” The Bank has drawn the attention of senior MPs as well as Tesla owner Elon Musk for advertising a position that pays £96.15 per day over eight [...]
Benefits to increase more than expected next April October 22, 2025 Most state benefits will rise by 3.8 per cent next year in line with September’s rate of inflation, exceeding earlier predictions by the Treasury watchdog. September’s CPI inflation figures are used to calculate the increase to many welfare bills which take effect next April, including universal credit and personal independence payments (Pips). The rise is [...]
Gilt yields drop as Reeves crosses fingers to reap benefits October 22, 2025 Gilt yields have fallen as investors breathed a sign of relief after inflation came in below economist expectations, with top analysts claiming an interest rate cut this year is “very much in play” while adding that Rachel Reeves could be in luck. Gilts, the name for UK government bonds, have regained momentum in the UK [...]
Inflation stays hot as UK’s economic woes deepen October 22, 2025 Inflation in the year to September remained sticky, new figures have shown, in further evidence that the UK’s economic woes have deepened and hit Brits harder than those in other countries. September was the third consecutive month that inflation hit 3.8 per cent, nearly double the Bank of England’s two per cent target. It came [...]
West Ham on hook for £5m despite Potter’s Swede pick-me-up October 22, 2025 West Ham will not receive any financial benefit from Sweden’s surprise appointment of Graham Potter, who is still set to bank around £5m in compensation after being sacked by the struggling Hammers last month. Most Premier League clubs only pay compensation – in the form of monthly salary payments – to sacked managers until they [...]
FTSE 100 Live: UK inflation holds at 3.8 per cent, Barclays share buyback October 22, 2025 Good morning from the City AM liveblog team. The UK’s top banks are gearing up for a third-quarter reporting season where all eyes will be on the Labour government’s second Autumn Budget. Speculation of a bank tax hike has dominated chatter around the sector in recent months and elevated fears across the City. It also [...]
Bank of England: Global crisis ‘alarm bells’ in private credit October 21, 2025 The Governor of the Bank of England has warned of “alarm bells” in the private credit market as he cautioned of consequences parallel to the 2008 global financial crisis. Andrew Bailey told lawmakers on Tuesday the collapse of US car parts maker First Brands and auto-dealership Tricolor could be “the canary in the coalmine” as [...]
Reeves ‘flying blind’ on non-doms as ultra-rich couple move to Milan October 21, 2025 Rachel Reeves will go into next month’s budget “flying blind” over the number of non-doms that have left the UK, a new report has warned on the day that a high-profile couple relocated to Milan in response to the Chancellor’s crackdown last autumn. The study, which was compiled by former Treasury economist Chris Walker, found [...]
UK government borrowing soars in September to highest in five years October 21, 2025 UK government borrowing soared north of £20bn in September, official data has revealed, in another blow for Rachel Reeves as she gears up for a painful tax-raising Budget next month. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said government borrowing over the month was the highest seen for five years and an increase of £1.6bn compared [...]