Private sector bounces back but Reeves leaves hospitality reeling January 23, 2026 The UK’s private sector expanded at the fastest rate in nearly two years in the first month of 2026 but the reeling hospitality sector was still feeling the crunch from Labour policy. The latest Flash Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) from S&P Global showed a major uptick in the all-important services sector, which is often seen [...]
UK retail sales see modest Christmas rise following Budget January 23, 2026 UK retail sales inched up slightly in December, as consumers returned to the high street for Christmas shopping after the Autumn Budget, but failed to halt an overall fall in purchases during the final quarter. Retail sales volumes are estimated to have increased by 0.4 per cent in December, following falls of 0.1 per cent [...]
Consumer confidence has been negative for 10 years January 23, 2026 Consumer confidence inched up slightly this month despite remaining in negative territory, a leading survey has indicated, indicating a degree of “resilience” despite a decade of consumer pessimism. The overall index score on GfK’s closely monitored consumer confidence survey rose by one point while feelings about personal finances over the next 12 months edged [...]
UK tax regime is forcing pubs to raise pint prices January 23, 2026 Pubs do not want to raise prices, but endless tax pressures are giving them little other choice, writes Emma McClarkin.
Prison porridge costs taxpayers £165m a year January 22, 2026 Porridge, baked beans and other prison food cost taxpayers a combined £165m a year, City AM can reveal, as questions around spending efficiencies loom over the Ministry of Justice. The government has signed a blockbuster £826.7m deal with a leading catering distributor to supply food for prisoners and staff. BFS Group, a subsidiary of South [...]
Millions of parents miss out on free pension cash by overlooking this rule January 22, 2026 Millions of UK parents are missing out on hundreds in free pension cash after being left in the dark by employers about a pension rule for new parents. While most parents are aware of child benefits and junior ISAs, many are losing as much as £720 per year after overlooking a far less familiar perk. [...]
Where does Britain stand in the New World Order? January 22, 2026 A new world order has been declared and described by Canada’s Mark Carney. Is he right, and if so, is there room in it for Britain? Davos, that alpine gathering of the great and the good, is normally a predictably dull affair. To give you a flavour of its worthiness, consider the formal title for [...]
Nigel Farage: Reform will tax the banks even if they don’t like it January 22, 2026 Nigel Farage has confirmed Reform will slap a tax on the UK’s banking giants in the latest dramatic escalation of his party’s tensions with the City. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in the Davos, Farage said: “This will be tough for banks to accept but I am sorry – the drain on public finances [...]
Total UK government borrowing beats OBR forecast January 22, 2026 UK government has already borrowed more this year than the Office for Budget Responsibility forecast, official data has revealed, wrapping up a difficult 12 months for Rachel Reeves as she grapples with keeping public finances safe from further shocks. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) estimated public sector borrowing to have been £11.6bn over the [...]
Inflation remains a headache on both sides of the Atlantic January 22, 2026 Donald Trump made many claims in his Davos speech yesterday and there aren’t enough pages in this newspaper to do justice to them all, but his assertion that “inflation has been defeated” is worth considering. With midterm elections coming up Trump knows the cost of living is a real concern, just as it is here, [...]