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 [...]
Reeves summons supermarket bosses again after snub March 31, 2026 Rachel Reeves has summoned supermarket bosses for a Downing Street meeting on Wednesday after being snubbed last week. The new meeting will be attended by executives at Sainsbury’s and Tesco but bosses at Asda, Aldi and John Lewis will miss out, supposedly due to diary clashes. The Chancellor hastily invited grocery executives to a meeting [...]
UK economy grew 1.4 per cent in 2025 March 31, 2026 The UK economy grew 1.4 per cent in 2025, official data has shown as data analysts nudged up the estimate for the year. The Office for National Statistics has confirmed that the UK economy grew more than originally thought but growth slowed down radically as the year passed. It found that GDP increased by 0.1 [...]
UK bond markets are dangerously exposed March 31, 2026 Many of the forces shaping the bond market are beyond any single government’s control. The combination of higher inflation, weaker growth and increased debt issuance is driving a global repricing of sovereign bonds, says Helen Thomas The global bond market is entering an increasingly precarious phase, shaped by the early stages of what looks like [...]
Shop prices creep up as retailers brace for Iran war supply chain disruption March 31, 2026 Shop price inflation edged up in March as cost rises related to the Iran war began to take effect. The cost of shop items increased by 1.2 per cent year on year in March, up from 1.1 per cent in February, according to data compiled by NIQ for the British Retail Consortium (BRC). The BRC [...]
AngloGold Ashanti Holdings plc Announces Capped Cash Tender Offers for Part of Its 3.375% Notes Due 2028, 3.750% Notes Due 2030 and 6.500% Notes Due 2040 March 30, 2026 AngloGold Ashanti Holdings plc (the “Offeror”), a company incorporated under the laws of the Isle of Man, announces today the offers to purchase for cash the outstanding series of its (i) 3.375% notes due 2028 (the “2028 Notes”), (ii) 3.750% notes due 2030 (the “2030 Notes”) and (iii) 6.500% notes due 2040 (the “2040 Notes” [...]
White van men ‘bleeding cash’ in Iran war diesel chaos March 30, 2026 The country’s fleet of tradesmen are “bleeding cash,” with the Iran war’s fuel chaos pushing the price difference between petrol and diesel to its widest level in decades. A litre of diesel cost 179.9p on Sunday on average – up more than 35p since the Iran war started and 25p higher than petrol, according to [...]
Why high oil prices could plunge world into recession by the summer March 30, 2026 The world economy is heading for a “rare” recession in the middle of this year as a prolonged war seems likely amid the prospect of US troops heading to the Middle East. Economists have warned that activity will fall in the middle of the year if oil prices surge to $150 per barrel and remain [...]
Reeves’ energy bill crackdown prompts industry backlash March 28, 2026 Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ push to crack down on “profiteering” among retailers has led to backlash across industry as suppliers are warning of shortages on the horizon. Reeves has been warned by industry bosses that the focus on profiteering lacked justification and was part of a political ploy ahead of crucial elections in May. Asda boss [...]
Just Eat and Autotrader face fake reviews investigation March 27, 2026 Just Eat and Autotrader are among five firms being probed by the competition watchdog as it uses new fake review rules to crack down on businesses. The food delivery firm’s ratings system may have inflated the star ratings of some restaurants and grocers, according to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), while the used car [...]