Don’t like the OBR? Then stop borrowing so much December 4, 2025 The left and the right have found a common enemy in the OBR, but if governments don’t like having their headroom wiped out by forecasts they should try running a surplus, says Tom Harwood Voices on the left and the right have found an unlikely common enemy in recent weeks: the much maligned Office for [...]
Rachel Reeves’ benefit handouts are unchristian, Badenoch says November 28, 2025 Kemi Badenoch has argued that Rachel Reeves’ welfare splurge in the Autumn Budget is inconsistent with Christian values, as she blasted the Labour government for raising taxes to fund increased spending. The Chancellor hiked taxes by £26bn on Wednesday to fund a massive injection of cash into welfare benefits, including the controversial decision to lift [...]
New Bond Street crowned most expensive retail destination in the world November 20, 2025 London’s New Bond Street has been crowned the world’s most expensive retail destination for the first time as investor confidence returns to high-end retail. Rents on New Bond Street have risen 22 per cent in the past year, helping it to leapfrog over Milan’s Via Montenapoleone and New York’s iconic Upper Fifth Avenue. Duncan Gillard, head of central London Retail at Cushman & Wakefield, [...]
Brits prep for an expensive Christmas at the grocers October 23, 2025 Brits are prepping for high grocery spending this Christmas as food inflation continues to dominate daily concerns, according to new data. Consumers’ expectations over the next three months of their personal finances worsened to -11 in October, down from -7 in September, according to the British Retail Consortium. The corresponding metric, personal spending on retail, rose nine [...]
Cautious Brits plan to cut spending ahead of Golden Quarter October 17, 2025 Nearly three quarters of Brits plan to cut spending for the rest of 2025 as consumers continue to prioritise saving over splashing out. While consumer sentiment has remained flat at -5 over summer, inflation worries have been rising and nearly nine in ten Brits now report concerns, according to the latest Consumer Sentiment Survey from [...]
Oasis fans’ supersonic spending tops Swifties in economic boom September 26, 2025 Oasis fans have topped the economic boost of Taylor Swift, with spending reaching over £5m at their first Wembley concert this year. The ‘Gallaghernomics’, as dubbed by Lloyds in their Market Intelligence analysis, have surpassed ‘Swiftonomics’ by 38 percent. The Oasis concert on 25 July 2025 generated £5.1m revenue in Wembley and within a one-mile [...]
Retail sales fall for eleventh consecutive month August 27, 2025 UK retail sales have continued their steady decline as price pressures weigh on already-stretched consumers, according to new data. The CBI’s monitor for annual retail sales was little changed at -32 in August, from -34 in July. “Weak demand and higher labour costs continue to put pressure on margins, dampening sentiment across the retail and [...]
Business rates ‘double whammy’ to cost English companies billions August 26, 2025 Businesses in England are to face an “unavoidable double hit” to their property tax payments next year, which will see total payments surge by about £2.5bn, according to new figures. Analysis from global tax firm Ryan indicated that inflation and a government tax change will combine to drive up business rates bills further. Business rates [...]
Lionesses and late licences set to deliver £135m boost to UK economy July 22, 2025 Pubs will be allowed to stay open until 1am tonight for the Lionesses’ Women’s Euros semi-final with Italy as the UK economy gets set for a boost of more than £135m. The Home Office announced plans in May to extend licensing hours if England reached the last four of the tournament and they were approved [...]
Reeves urged to unfreeze income tax or risk entrenched damage June 26, 2025 Rachel Reeves has been given another stark warning of the implications of extending the freeze on income tax thresholds. The Chancellor has vowed to not repeat the scale of tax rises in last year’s autumn Budget, but has not addressed whether she will stand by her promise to unfreeze income tax thresholds from 2028. Reeves [...]