Over one million pensioners hit by higher income tax rates September 1, 2026 The number of pensioners paying the highest rates of income tax has doubled in the last five years as frozen thresholds drag more Brits into higher bands. The amount of pensioners paying income tax at 40 per cent or 45 per cent has surpassed one million this current tax year, according to a freedom of [...]
Shop price inflation hits two-year high as rising energy costs hit consumers September 1, 2026 Shop price inflation has hit a two-year high and is set to climb through the autumn as a surge in energy and commodity costs filters through to consumers, a top business group has found. The British Retail Consortium (BRC), which represents major supermarkets and high street shops across the UK, warned that shop price inflation [...]
Burnham is ‘not behind’ business confidence bounce September 1, 2026 Andy Burnham’s rise to Number 10 is not the reason for a bounce in business confidence, industry leaders have said. Some analysts have attributed a higher degree of optimism among businesses and consumers in recent months to the “Burnham bounce” and new political direction since Sir Keir Starmer resigned. But influential lobby group the Institute [...]
Oil price climbs above $90 as Iran says US diplomacy ‘isn’t possible’ August 31, 2026 The price of oil is creeping higher after the US launched strikes at Iranian rocket launchers that were reportedly preparing to lay mines in the Strait of Hormuz. Brent crude – the international benchmark for oil prices – climbed towards $91 per barrel after strikes from the US marked the first exchange of fire in [...]
Why London’s AI engineers are worth £360,000+ August 31, 2026 Jack & Jill co-founder Saaras Mehan just hiked the minimum salary for engineers from £240,000 to £360,000. He says that's what London’s AI talent is worth.
Lord Walker calls for Healey to cut business taxes August 30, 2026 Iceland boss Lord Richard Walker has urged Andy Burnham and John Healey to cut taxes for businesses and to stop focusing on the cost of living. Walker, who backed Labour at the last election, said Healey should ease costs for employers. The supermarket chief was the cost of living tsar under Sir Keir Starmer’s government [...]
Business confidence climbs on consumer spending power August 28, 2026 Business confidence has risen to its highest level since March, as resilient consumers shrug off the impact of the Iran war and Budget-related speculation is kept to a minimum. According to the Lloyds Business Barometer, confidence among British firms rose four points in August to 53 per cent, the highest reading since the outbreak of [...]
As it happened: FTSE 100 jumps as oil falls back; Warsh says ‘work to do’ on inflation August 28, 2026 Welcome back to the City AM FTSE 100 liveblog. The UK’s blue-chip index extended gains on Friday after some pressures in the oil market eased off. Oil prices reared back up on Thursday night, reversing days of losses earlier in the week. The price of Brent crude – the international benchmark for oil – jumped [...]
Sorry Elon, universal basic income won’t solve the AI jobs apocalypse August 28, 2026 Traditionally left-wing economists, universal basic income has now found unlikely support in Silicon Valley as AI threatens to wipe out jobs.
Euro 2028 hospitality: Money-back tickets if England flop and no dynamic pricing August 28, 2026 Jaime Byrom of Beyond Hospitality on what football fans can expect from its premium offerings at Euro 2028 in the UK and Ireland, which go on sale next week. The US might be seen as sport’s most mature commercial market but, when it comes to hospitality offerings, it still trails the UK, according to one [...]