News Archive

4/5/2026

When the Oil Runs Low: What a $200 Barrel Would Mean for Britain and the World

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.  

4/5/2026

Could a Modern “Dig for Victory” Help Britain Survive the Cost?of?Living Crisis?

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.  

4/5/2026

Project Freedom and the Price at the Pump: What Trump’s Hormuz Escorts Mean for the UK

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.  

4/5/2026

Do Rising Prices Change What We Consume? Food, Smoking, Alcohol and the Reality of Cutting Back

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.  

4/5/2026

Oil, War, and the Cost of Living - Donald Trumps Latest

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.  

4/5/2026

UK Electricity Becoming “More British” Despite North Sea Decline

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.  

4/5/2026

Why UK Food Prices Keep Rising: Climate, Energy, and the Long Cost-of-Living Shock

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.  

3/5/2026

The Fall of Spirit Airlines And What It Means for Budget Air Travel Worldwide

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.  

3/5/2026

 
Why the Bank of Japan Is Fighting the Yen and What It Reveals About a Wider Asian Currency Problem

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.  

3/5/2026

 
The Oil Crisis Is Already Worse Than It Looks

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.  

3/5/2026

Why Rising Oil Prices Hit Asian Economies Harder Than Europe

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.  

3/5/2026

 
Could the Bank of England push us into a depression? - Richard Murphy

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.  

3/5/2026

 
How Resilient Is the Global Food System? Key Insights from the 2026 Resilient Food Systems Index

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.  

3/5/2026

Is the Global Food Supply at Risk? A Realistic Look at a System Under Strain

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.  

3/5/2026

 
European State of the Climate 2025: record heatwaves from the Mediterranean to the Arctic, while glaciers shrink and snow cover declines

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.  

3/5/2026

Government sets out plans to protect summer holidays?from disruption?

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.  

3/5/2026

 
Why I wont stop explaining economics - Richard Murphy

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.  

3/5/2026

 
War, climate, El Nińo, and Trump: the four forces about to make your food bills unpayable - Richard Murphy

Four crises are converging on the world's food supply.   War has closed the Strait of Hormuz.  

2/5/2026

New interceptor missiles successfully tested in the Middle East as Defence Minister visits region

The UK military and Gulf partners will be better protected against drone attacks following the successful testing of new British-built Skyhammer interceptor missiles and launchers in Jordan.   New Skyhammer interceptor missiles and launchers, produced by UK start-up Cambridge Aerospace, successfully tested in Jordan.  

2/5/2026

 
The Slow Death of the Tumble Dryer: How High Energy Costs Are Reviving the Clothes Horse

For decades, the tumble dryer symbolised convenience.  It was the appliance that freed people from damp winters, endless laundry days, and the tyranny of the washing line.