Price growth set to almost double yet interest rate hike uncertain March 25, 2026 Price growth could jump to as high as five per cent within months, economists have said, leaving the outlook for interest rates more uncertain. Top City economists said they expected inflation to rise to nearly double the rate seen just before war in the Middle East broke out, leaving the Bank of England with a [...]
Rocco Forte: Inheritance tax grab has endangered my family firm March 25, 2026 With luxury outposts across Europe, and plans to expand to the Gulf, Rocco Forte Hotels has become one of Britain’s most successful hospitality exports. But after being hit by a wave of damaging policies – including a potentially existential inheritance tax crackdown – he tells Ali Lyon, he is more disillusioned with Britain now, than [...]
Unemployment is rising and top bosses want to do something about it March 25, 2026 Business giants have come together to find ways of hiring more people currently out of work as private sector bosses move to play a more active role in improving the state of the UK labour market. Company chiefs from the likes of BT, Shell, Marks & Spencer and Pret have joined a new, non-governmental ‘Employer [...]
UK economy facing ‘pronounced recession’ March 24, 2026 The war in the Middle East is “stalling growth” in the UK economy, fresh data has shown, as economists warned that a “pronounced recession” will come if energy prices stay high. A monthly survey of business activity across the country has suggested that there was a slowdown in output as well as a fall in [...]
Cancel student debt in exchange for first time buyer equity, housebuilders urge government March 24, 2026 Cash-strapped graduates struggling to get on the property ladder should have their debt written off in exchange for giving over a stake of their first home to the government, a new report has urged. The report, backed by more than 50 housing sector bodies including top housebuilders Vistry and Barratt Redrow, proposes offering a discount [...]
Reeves pledges targeted support as she blasts Liz Truss’ £40bn energy bailout March 24, 2026 Chancellor Rachel Reeves hit out at a Tory government-era energy support package that cost around £40bn in a further indication that any Labour scheme would only be for the poorest households. In an address to the House of Commons, Reeves said there were “contingency plans” being drafted for different scenarios where energy prices stay higher [...]
Coe urged to stand for London Mayor in move that could hit Manchester United March 24, 2026 Lord Coe has been urged to challenge Sadiq Khan in the race to be London Mayor in a move that could cast doubt on his ability to help Manchester United build their new stadium. Two-time Olympic champion and former Tory MP Coe is the current president of World Athletics, but is being urged to take [...]
UK must learn lessons from this crisis – starting with energy policy March 24, 2026 Has the US brought Iran to heel? Or has Iran discovered it has the upper hand? These are urgent questions and the world waits with bated breath for clear answers. Trump claims Iran approached the US, seeking a deal to end the war, and while the Iranians deny this it seems likely that contact has [...]
Manic Monday: How Trump rocked global markets March 23, 2026 President Donald Trump sent global markets on a rollercoaster ride as traders were left stunned by mixed messages coming from the US administration and the Iranian regime. The Brent Crude oil price was trading around $114 per barrel before Trump said in a post on Truth Social that he was pausing strikes due to “productive” [...]
How the Bank of England will read into outdated inflation data March 23, 2026 Can data be redundant? The Office for National Statistics will this week give the impression that inflation is stable. Economists have predicted the consumer price index inflation print for the year to February to come in at three per cent, like last month, which would have otherwise made for satisfactory reading. But the figures precede [...]