How bad has the ‘cost of living crisis’ really been? October 14, 2026 The 'cost of living crisis' has become a well-worn phrase over the last four years, but what do the numbers actually say, asks Paul Ormerod.
Midday Markets: The UK economy is a juxtapo-Britain October 13, 2026 The Midday Market report is a new newsletter from City AM, giving you fresh analysis on the biggest stories in the City straight into your inbox every lunchtime. Today, Ali Lyon weighs up what Tuesday’s IMF report says about the state of the UK economy. Sign up to the City AM News Updates newsletter here. [...]
UK economy to suffer second-highest inflation in G7 October 13, 2026 The UK economy will suffer the second highest inflation of any G7 country over the next two years, the International Monetary Fund has warned, putting Chancellor John Healey’s efforts to ease the cost of living at risk. In its latest report published today, the global finance body has said that inflation will remain above the [...]
Bank of England targeted in inflation installation stunt October 12, 2026 The Bank of England has been targeted in an inflation installation stunt in the centre of the City of London. Over the weekend, a satirical art piece appeared across the road from the central bank’s office on Threadneedle Street. A black Canon printer, sitting atop a decorative silver-beaded pedestal surrounded by a stream of banknotes, [...]
Fiscal drag to the rescue – but Healey still faces £35bn inflation headache October 12, 2026 Soaring inflation could force the Chancellor to commit to more government spending and tax hikes, posing a worse Budget headache than a narrowing fiscal headroom, a top think tank has warned. John Healey might have to top up department budgets by as much as £35bn by the end of the decade to stop the real-terms [...]
Economy set to shrink ahead of Budget in ‘difficult’ outlook October 11, 2026 The UK economy is expected to have shrunk in August, despite hopes that the stronger-than-expected growth seen in June and July would continue. The latest gross domestic product (GDP) data, which will be released on Thursday, is expected to show a contraction of 0.1 per cent in August, according to City economists polled by Bloomberg. [...]
Bailey: Governments must help control inflation too October 8, 2026 Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey has said that governments should look to help keep prices stable and win over markets with disinflationary tax and spending measures. In an intervention on the relationship between monetary and fiscal policy, Bailey urged governments to consider the impacts of government spending and borrowing on inflation. The Bank of [...]
G7 agrees to release diesel reserves after crisis meeting October 2, 2026 Leaders from the G7 have agreed to tap into 100m of diesel and oil from their reserves in a bid to stave off a soaring supply crisis and end an escalating feud between the Euope and the US. The club of wealthy democracies said on Friday that they would work with the International Energy Agency [...]
Price pressures hit firms amid uncertain outlook and fears of interest rate hikes October 2, 2026 Firms’ inflation expectations for the next 12 months rose higher, according to closely watched Bank of England survey, the results of which could pile pressure on policymakers to raise interest rates. The Bank’s monthly survey of firms’ price expectations, the Decision Makers’ Panel, showed price expectations becoming more jittery as costs from the energy price [...]
Burnham’s ‘costly’ policy agenda sparks investor nerves October 1, 2026 Andy Burnham’s “costly” policy agenda and the resurgent threat of inflation are weighing on investors’ appetite for the UK, according to a closely-watched survey of top money managers, which also revealed waning hopes of a rebound in London’s IPO market this year. Berenberg’s Investor Barometer, which polled 300 international investors managing a combined $1 trillion, [...]