Supermarket bosses meet Rachel Reeves amid dire food inflation warning April 1, 2026 The bosses of some of the UK’s biggest supermarkets met Chancellor Rachel Reeves in emergency cost of living talks on Wednesday, amid warnings that food inflation could rise to double digits this year. Leading supermarkets including Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Morrisons attended Downing Street after efforts to gather industry bosses last week were abandoned amid concerns [...]
UK business confidence plunges to another record low April 1, 2026 Business confidence in the future of the UK economy has plunged to another record low as directors fear the war will damage investment plans and increase costs, a leading survey has found. Research by the Institute of Directors recorded business confidence dropping to a net figure of -76 in March, compared to -63 in February. [...]
Andy Haldane: My mission to ignite Britain’s animal spirits March 31, 2026 As the Bank of England’s chief economist, Andy Haldane had a front row seat to the maladies of UK’s sluggish economy. After a four-year stint running the RSA, he is back as president of the British Chambers of Commerce, and tells Ali Lyon business is still taxed mindlessly, over regulated, and far too risk averse. [...]
Britain is still paying a heavy price for Covid lockdowns March 31, 2026 Six years on from the first lockdown, Britain hasn’t returned to its pre-Covid path – instead becoming a high-tax, low-growth less free nation, says Alex Pugh A little over six years ago, 27m people watched UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson tell them to “stay home” to tackle the spread of coronavirus. Johnson said you should [...]
Starmer urges Brits to ‘act as normal’ as fuel shortage fears grow March 30, 2026 Sir Keir Starmer has urged Britons to “act as normal” despite energy chiefs’ warning that there could be fuel shortages within days. The Prime Minister’s spokesman said that the UK had a “resilient and diverse” supply of energy sources as he played down the prospect of a fuel crisis. “We will always plan for all [...]
For FSCS sake: Meet the body that protects Britain’s savers in a financial crisis March 30, 2026 As echoes of 2008 percolate through the banking system, the body that serves to protect Britain in a financial crisis says it’s ready to weather any storm. A combination of fears around private credit, the “stretched” value of artificial intelligence firms and more recently, concerns around a global energy shock, have made top bankers sound [...]
Tesco beats Clubcard copycats to claim loyalty scheme crown March 27, 2026 Tesco’s beloved Clubcard has triumphed against rivals Sainsbury’s and Greggs to be named the country’s most valued loyalty scheme. The supermarket giant’s Clubcard is the UK’s most effective, according to an index by software firm HyperFinity which polled Brits on the value, customer satisfaction and rewards offered by loyalty schemes at more than 50 retailers. [...]
Globalisation obituaries ‘hopelessly premature’ March 26, 2026 Boosting trade is the single best way to improve the long-term fortunes of the UK despite the economy being hit by a barrage of supply chain fractures and geopolitical shocks, the Bank of England’s former chief economist has said. In his first speech as president of the British Chambers of Commerce, Andy Haldane told delegates [...]
Inflation stays above Bank of England’s target before Iran war March 25, 2026 Inflation in the year to February remained well above the Bank of England’s target rate in the last piece of price data covering the period before war in the Middle East erupted. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed that CPI inflation over the 12 month period was three per cent, staying flat on the [...]
Where is London’s cheapest pint? March 25, 2026 Drawn out of the office and into the City’s pubs by the springtime sun, Square Mile workers will face a bitter taste when they pay for their pints. The City of London is one of the 28 London boroughs where the cost of a pint has surged over the past two years, with the price [...]