Retail sales weren't impacted by the conflict in Iran in March, but suffered a 1.3% fall in sales volumes in April. E-commerce was particularly badly hit by last month’s fall in consumer confidence.
The Chancellor’s already‑tight fiscal headroom has been “seriously eroded”, according to senior economic analysts, prompting renewed speculation that the Treasury may turn to pension‑related tax measures to plug the gap. Independent forecasts suggest that between £12 billion and £16 billion of the Chancellor’s fiscal buffer has disappeared due to weaker‑than‑expected growth, higher borrowing costs, and the ongoing freeze in tax thresholds.
Chris Rea, Prospects at Jisc, discusses their new report showing a disconnect between young people's perceptions and AI's real impact on work and jobs. AI is already having a significant impact on how young people approach their careers.
What if the national debt is not a burden at all? What if it is simply the nation’s savings? Any sensible analysis shows that this so-called debt is no such thing: it's just a massive savings bank operation. That sounds like a contradiction, but it is not.
The latest swings in global oil prices show just how fragile the international energy market has become as tensions between the United States and Iran continue to collide with attempts at diplomacy. Although peace negotiations are still taking place behind the scenes through Gulf mediators, military action has once again returned to the centre of events after the United States carried out strikes against Iranian-linked targets near the Strait of Hormuz.
Concerns about whether financial markets are reaching a peak and moving toward a crash are resurfacing again, particularly as valuations remain elevated in parts of global equities and interest rates have reset after a long period of cheap money. But the UK picture is more nuanced than a simple “bubble or bust” narrative.
U.S. consumer confidence is dropping because Americans are being hit by persistent high prices, geopolitical shocks, tariffs, and a sense that inflation never really went away even though official inflation rates have cooled.
Former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell has now pleaded guilty to embezzling more than £400,000 from the Scottish National Party over a period stretching from 2010 to 2023. The case was part of the long-running Police Scotland investigation known as “Operation Branchform.” How much money was involved? Originally prosecutors alleged about: £459,046 had been embezzled.
Donald Trump has made the biggest mistake in provoking a war with Iran. Steve Keen has been proved correct on many aspects of economy for many years.
Oil prices are under threat. Food supplies are becoming more fragile.
Farmers in Scotland’s pig industry are facing a combination of financial, processing, disease-control and market pressures, and farming organisations are now openly calling for help and intervention from the Scottish Government. There is currently an over supply of pig meat in Europe affecting prices.
The World Bank report State and Trends of Carbon Pricing 2025/2026 says carbon trading and carbon taxes are becoming a major part of the global economy. Governments are increasingly using them both to cut emissions and raise money.
That pattern actually shows up quite consistently in retail downturns, and it comes down to a mix of psychology, affordability, and product type. Health and beauty products tend to behave more like “everyday essentials with emotional value” than discretionary luxury items.
The IWSR (International Wine and Spirits Research) has been consistently reporting a structural slowdown in global alcohol consumption growth, but it’s not a simple story of “everyone drinking less”. It’s more about how, what, and why people drink changing.
A lot of people ask exactly that question, and on the surface it seems logical. If one company is cheapest, why not simply have the government publish the answer and let everyone switch automatically?.
The main reason oil prices appear to have dropped today is growing market optimism that tensions between the United States and Iran may ease, reducing fears of a prolonged disruption to Middle East oil supplies. The question is whether the current talks lead to a solid agreement.
The World Bank Group’s fertilizer price index rose more than 12 percent in 2026Q1 (q/q), marking its sixth increase in seven quarters. By April 2026, the index had reached its highest level since October 2022, driven mainly by export disruptions related to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
UK and Australia agree deeper ties to tackle AI risks. The UK and Australia agree deeper ties to tackle AI risks, with new partnership between the UK AI Security Institute and the Australian AI Safety Institute.
The UK Government’s latest report on retirement saving delivers a blunt message: millions of people are not saving enough for later life. It’s not a political point, nor a technical quirk of the pension system it’s a reality check.
Lena Petrova discusses the inflated valuations of many private equity companies. Will Private Equity shrink back and the cracks about to explode.