When Donald Trump announced that the United States would begin escorting stranded commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz, he framed it as a humanitarian mission to “free up” vessels trapped for weeks. But behind the rhetoric lies a hard economic truth.
Global oil markets have been thrown into renewed uncertainty following a fresh escalation around the Strait of Hormuz one of the most strategically vital chokepoints in the world. Recent comments from Donald Trump, outlining a potential US role in guiding ships through the strait, have added a new layer of complexity to an already tense situation.
The ECIU analysis argues that the UK’s electricity system is becoming increasingly self-reliant, even as North Sea oil and gas production continues its long-term decline. The key shift is the rapid growth of domestic renewable energy—especially wind and solar—which is reducing dependence on imported fuels.
When Britain launched the “Dig for Victory” campaign in 1939, it wasn’t nostalgia or whimsy it was survival. The country imported 70% of its food, U‑boats were sinking merchant ships, and the government needed every garden, verge, and allotment to produce calories.
As the cost of living continues to rise, a common assumption emerges. If prices go up enough, people will simply cut back on food, cigarettes, alcohol, and especially unhealthy treats.
By late 2026, UK households are expected to face food prices that are dramatically higher than just a few years ago. Research from the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) suggests that by November, grocery costs could be around 50% higher than they were at the start of the cost-of-living crisis in 2021.
For months there have been many stories about what happens if oil prices go even higher but many analyst are now saying the end of May is crunch time. For decades, $200 oil was the stuff of doomsday forecasts just a theoretical ceiling invoked by analysts to illustrate the fragility of global energy markets.
The Bank of England has held interest rates, but the real story is what happens next. Beneath its decision, pressure is building to raise rates again, and that could prove disastrous.
In recent months, the Bank of Japan has spent tens of billions of dollars intervening in currency markets to support the Japanese yen. At first glance, this may look like a technical financial issue.
The recent collapse of Spirit Airlines in USA has sent shockwaves through the aviation industry, raising an urgent question. Could other low-cost airlines face the same fate? Spirit was long known as a pioneer of the ultra-low-cost carrier (ULCC) model offering extremely cheap base fares while charging extra for almost everything else.
Oil prices have surged—but the real crisis isn’t what you see on the surface. In this video, we break down why global oil markets still appear calm despite a major supply shock, and how hidden factors like falling inventories, limited spare capacity, and disrupted supply routes are masking a much deeper problem.
The question of whether the world’s food supply is under serious threat has become increasingly urgent. With war in key agricultural regions, rising geopolitical tensions, climate volatility, and shifting trade policies, it’s easy to assume that a global food crisis is imminent.
In an era defined by climate volatility, geopolitical tension, and economic uncertainty, the resilience of the global food system has become a central concern. A new report, the Resilient Food Systems Index: Global Report, published by Economist Impact in March 2026, offers one of the most comprehensive attempts yet to measure how well countries can withstand and adapt to these pressures.
ECMWF and WMO report highlights impacts of climate change on people and biodiversity across the fastest-warming continent. Rapid warming in Europe is reducing snow and ice cover, while dangerously high air temperatures, drought, heatwaves and record ocean temperatures are affecting regions from the Arctic to the Mediterranean.
There are no immediate supply issues, but government is preparing now to give families long-term certainty and avoid unnecessary disruption. summer holidays to be better protected as government consults on relaxing flight take-off/landing rules, providing certainty for passengers and businesses lightning consultation launched to provide airlines flexibility to lock in flight schedules early, prevent last-minute disruptions and cancellations Transport Secretary reiterates passengers are entitled to be re-routed or refunded if their flight is cancelled by the airline Passengers will have their summer holidays better protected as government sets out plans today (3 May 2026), which will help cut the likelihood of last-minute flight cancellations this summer in the event of significant disruption due to ongoing global uncertainty caused by the Middle East conflict. The contingency preparations are designed to give families greater confidence when travelling this summer by enabling airlines to plan realistically and lock in schedules earlier so that people are less likely to be affected by short‑notice changes at the airport.
When discussing global oil prices, it’s easy to assume that all regions are affected equally. After all, crude oil is traded on global markets with widely referenced benchmarks such as Brent.
Four crises are converging on the world's food supply. War has closed the Strait of Hormuz.
Why write 25,000 blog posts? Why make a video every single day? In this video, I explain what drives my work, why I have spent decades challenging mainstream economics, and why I believe much of what we are told about the economy is simply wrong. This is not about academic debate for its own sake.
Police Scotland continue to see a rise in fuel thefts across all areas of the country. This can largely be attributed to recent fuel prices and speculation about fuel shortages. All types of fuel are being targeted from domestic heating oil to commercial fuels stored on farms and construction sites.
Across the UK, the high street is entering a period of quiet but significant change. Rising energy costs, strained supply chains, and shifting consumer habits are combining to reshape the economics of everyday food businesses.