Economics

New UK cost of living crisis looms with soaring energy bills forecast to lift inflation

by The Guardian | Aug 16, 2026 | Andy Burnham, Bank of England, Business, Commodities, Consumer affairs, Economic policy, Economics, Energy bills, Energy industry, Family finances, Household bills, Inflation, Interest rates, Money, Office for National Statistics, Oil, Politics, The Guardian, UK cost of living crisis, UK news, US-Israel war on Iran | 0 |

Latest reading on Wednesday likely to frame scale of challenge for new PM to ease pressures on households amid Iran war fallout British households are facing a renewed cost of living squeeze, with official figures expected to...

Just 20 of 6,600 Defra staff working on climate adaptation amid drought and wildfires

by The Guardian | Aug 12, 2026 | Climate crisis, Economics, Environment, Environment policy, Extreme heat, Extreme weather, Politics, The Guardian, UK news, Water | 0 |

Exclusive: England ‘desperately unprepared’ for effects of crisis including water shortages and heatwavesUK heatwave live – latest updatesJust 20 staff are working on climate adaptation within a key government department tasked...

UK heatwaves may have cost economy £4.4bn in lost output so far this year, analysis finds

by The Guardian | Aug 12, 2026 | Business, Climate crisis, Economic growth (GDP), Economic policy, Economics, Environment, Europe, Extreme heat, London, Politics, Sadiq Khan, The Guardian, Thinktanks, UK news, UK weather, Wildfires | 0 |

Verdant thinktank says cost could top £25bn a year by 2030 and calls for maximum temperature for working and urban redesign to cool down citiesRepeated debilitating heatwaves this summer are likely to have cost the UK economy...

Union calls for robust review of OBR over fears it holds back economic growth

by The Guardian | Aug 8, 2026 | Budget deficit, Business, Economic policy, Economics, Government borrowing, Investments, Money, Office for Budget Responsibility, Politics, The Guardian, Trade unions, TUC, UK news | 0 |

TUC will urge John Healey to order ‘root and branch’ assessment of watchdog amid claims its forecasts downplay investment benefitsThe TUC is urging the new chancellor, John Healey, to order a “root and branch” review of the...

UK faces ‘very difficult trade-offs’ in budget because of Iran war, say analysts

by The Guardian | Jul 28, 2026 | Andy Burnham, Bank of England, Budget, Budget deficit, Business, Economic policy, Economics, Government borrowing, Inflation, Iran, John Healey, Office for Budget Responsibility, Oil, Politics, Public finance, The Guardian, UK news, US-Israel war on Iran | 0 |

Leading thinktank says higher oil prices and inflation will give Andy Burnham a ‘challenging inheritance’Andy Burnham has been warned by a leading thinktank of “very difficult trade-offs in the next autumn budget” if the Iran...

Rising oil prices could force up UK interest rates, say economists

by The Guardian | Jul 26, 2026 | Bank of England, Business, Commodities, Economics, Inflation, Interest rates, Oil, Politics, The Guardian, UK news, US-Israel war on Iran | 0 |

Bank of England expected to keep rates on hold on Thursday but renewed Iran conflict casts shadow over energy costsThe Bank of England could be forced to tear up its economic forecasts and raise interest rates later this year if...

UK inflation falls to 2.6% in lift for Burnham’s cost of living plans

by The Guardian | Jul 22, 2026 | Andy Burnham, Bank of England, Business, Economics, Inflation, Interest rates, Monetary policy committee, Office for National Statistics, Politics, The Guardian, UK news | 0 |

Annual June figure comes after new PM pledges to reduce pressure on households and improve economyUK inflation dropped by more than expected in June to 2.6%, in a boost for Andy Burnham’s plans to reduce the cost of living.The...

UK inflation falls to 2.6% in lift for Burnham’s cost of living plans

by The Guardian | Jul 22, 2026 | Andy Burnham, Bank of England, Business, Economics, Inflation, Interest rates, Monetary policy committee, Office for National Statistics, Politics, The Guardian, UK news | 0 |

Annual June figure comes after new PM pledges to reduce pressure on households and improve economyUK inflation dropped by more than expected in June to 2.6%, in a boost for Andy Burnham’s plans to reduce the cost of living.The...

UK employers cut job vacancies as Burnham aims to lift living standards

by The Guardian | Jul 21, 2026 | Andy Burnham, Business, Economics, Politics, The Guardian, UK news, UK unemployment and employment statistics | 0 |

Unemployment holds steady at 4.9%, underlining the challenge facing the new prime ministerBusiness live – latest updatesEmployers cut the number of job vacancies in May, according to official figures that highlight the UK’s...

UK borrows less than expected in June in boost for Burnham

by The Guardian | Jul 21, 2026 | Andy Burnham, Business, Economics, Government borrowing, Politics, The Guardian, UK news | 0 |

Figure of £16bn from ONS comes after new prime minister revealed plans to cut VAT on electricity billsBusiness live – latest updatesThe UK government borrowed less than expected in June, in a boost for Andy Burnham as he set out...

UK borrows less than expected in June in boost for Burnham

by The Guardian | Jul 21, 2026 | Andy Burnham, Business, Economics, Government borrowing, Politics, The Guardian, UK news | 0 |

Figure of £16bn from ONS comes after new prime minister revealed plans to cut VAT on electricity billsBusiness live – latest updatesThe UK government borrowed less than expected in June, in a boost for Andy Burnham as he set out...

Wealth tax on UK’s super-rich could raise £10bn a year, Andy Burnham told

by The Guardian | Jul 21, 2026 | Andy Burnham, Business, Economics, Politics, Tax and spending, The Guardian, The super-rich, UK news | 0 |

New prime minister urged to introduce 2% minimum charge on households with more than £100m in wealthA wealth tax on the UK’s super-rich households could raise £10bn a year, according to academics who urged Andy Burnham to...

Category: Economics