Economy
EconomyIs a job guarantee the solution to mass AI unemployment?
An old idea springs anew as a chorus of influential voices predicts that AI may trigger crises of vast magnitude In a preface to his book Capitalism and Freedom, the American economist Milton Friedman famously observed that a crisis can propel once-fringe idea
EconomyWhat is the Budget and what could be in it?
Chancellor John Healey will set out his plans for UK taxes on 28 October.
EconomyUK consumer confidence falls at fastest rate since Brexit vote as cost of living bites
Economic fallout from war in Middle East adds to pressures on consumers and on chancellor before budget Consumer confidence in the UK has fallen at the fastest rate outside the Covid pandemic since the 2016 Brexit vote as the escalating economic damage from th
Economy‘No indications’ PHP code flaw has led to government systems being hacked, cyber security official says – as it happened
Some 32 government services are offline while work is carried out to address potential cybersecurity issues, a minister has said Tell us: have you been affected by the PHP code flaw? The Office for National Statistics has also published a report on the gender
EconomyBarclays cutting 5,000 jobs as it increases reliance on AI
The bank says it is using more AI leading to a 5% reduction in its workforce.
EconomyToo little, too late: Trump takes on gas prices as fuel costs hamper his midterm hopes
Polls show US voters are deeply upset by high gas prices and are likely to punish Republicans in the midterms as a result How will Trump’s mass deportation agenda shape the US midterm elections? Our reporters answer your questions With fewer than two weeks unt
EconomyFrench borrowing costs overtake US amid budget turmoil
France’s bond market hit by another bout of selling as country recovers from weekend protests French borrowing costs continued to rise on Thursday, as investors fret that France’s government is struggling to pass a federal budget after public protests gripped
EconomyThe 'trillion pound' oil fund the government believes Britain could have built
For the first time, the Treasury calculates how much the UK could have raised by investing North Sea proceeds.
EconomyHow much money does the UK government borrow, and why does it matter?
The UK government borrows to fund day-to-day spending as well as long-term infrastructure projects.
EconomyDouble blow to Healey as inflation rises to 3.5% and monthly deficit hits £24bn
Consumer prices rise by more than expected while government’s debt interest payments surge to record high for September Inflation surged to 3.5% last month while the government deficit was a worse-than-forecast £24.5bn, in a double dose of bad news for John He
EconomyFaisal Islam: Inflation and borrowing figures illustrate chancellor's Budget challenge
The economic figures released on Wednesday show the constraints for John Healey as he puts the finishing touches to his Budget.
EconomyInflation and government borrowing highest for a year ahead of next week's Budget
Inflation accelerated to 3.5% from 3.1% in the year to September, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
EconomyWhat is happening to UK prices?
UK inflation rose in September, pushed up by higher petrol and diesel prices.
EconomyUK government borrowing rises to £24.5bn as John Healey prepares for budget
Government paid £10.9bn in debt interest, the highest September figure since records began Business live – latest updates The Treasury ran a higher than expected budget deficit of £24.5bn last month as rising inflation pushed up the interest paid on government
EconomyGoogle Cloud outage: problems fixed for ‘most‘ customers, as regulators push for details – as it happened
Google apologises after power issue causes a major Cloud outage in its London region today that led to problems at banks, Revolut, and court video cameras Google cloud failure hits millions as UK courts and banks knocked offline The pound has rallied after Bri
EconomyLabour will not have the courage to cut spending, says Badenoch
Speaking ahead of next week's Budget, the Conservative leader says her party would make £70bn of cuts.
EconomyJobless rate falls but small firms cut back hiring
Small firms cite labour costs as a key factor in scaling back hiring, the Office for National Statistics says.
EconomyExcessive wealth, extreme emissions – and ecocide: what I learned at Europe’s big superyacht show
These yachts are highly popular with the ‘super-bourgeoisie’ – and getting bigger. Can anything be done to stop them destroying our seas? Who knew? Apparently everyone did, apart from me: you don’t wear shoes on a superyacht. Now, about to step on to my first
EconomySurprise drop in UK unemployment to 4.7% as John Healey’s first budget looms
Latest ONS data presents mixed picture amid slump in job vacancies and analysts warning labour market is ‘running on idle’ Healey to reject calls to raise CGT in budget Unemployment in the UK has fallen unexpectedly in the final snapshot of the jobs market bef
EconomyHow is the US economy really doing under President Trump?
Ahead of the midterms Trump has boasted about the performance of the US economy. BBC Verify looks at inflation, jobs and economic growth in the country.
EconomyFrance hit by debt sell-off as violent protests unnerve investors
Difference between French and German borrowing costs widens after public buildings burned and shops looted France has been hit by a fresh wave of selling in its bond and stock markets after violent protests over the weekend led to thousands of arrests and left
EconomyHome sellers cut asking prices on 3,000 properties a day
More property asking prices are being cut than at any time in 15 years, data shared with the BBC shows.
EconomyChina’s economy grows faster than forecast after AI boom boosts exports
Third-quarter GDP up by 4.5% compared with last year as industrial output is buoyed by electronics demand Roaring exports lifted China’s economic growth in the third quarter of this year, with factory output growing much faster than consumer spending. China’s
EconomySmall business owners are doing OK – but will that help Trump overcome his low approval ratings?
Overall, economic sentiment for Trump is poor, but small businesses seem fairly confident, according to several surveys There are 34m small businesses in the United States. They employ approximately half of the country’s workers and generate about half of the
EconomyWorld leaders must wise up to threat of cyber-attacks or rogue fridges will be least of their worries | Heather Stewart
Global cooperation seems unlikely despite AI increasing the risk of digital fraud and the need to protect the financial system Rogue French fridges were an unlikely talking point for the world’s leading economists, central bankers and finance chiefs meeting in
EconomyWorld Bank says ‘small AI’ could transform developing countries
Bank’s chief knowledge officer says the tech could speed up economic development from centuries to decades The World Bank is urging developing countries to kickstart the creation of “small AI” models, which can run on a mobile phone with low connectivity, to r
Economy‘Austerity is inevitably painful’: How Michael Gove justifies his politics | Radical Thinking with Aditya Chakrabortty
For more than three decades, Michael Gove has been a leading figure in British Conservatism. As a journalist, government minister and now editor of the Tory bible the Spectator, he has helped shape the right even as it has moved further rightwards. In the late
Economy'I'm not sure how King Charles would feel about being replaced by Tom Jones on our money'
Although he represents the Bank of England, Rhys Phillips' says his Welsh heritage is "very important".
EconomyHedgehogs worthy banknote winners, rescuers say
East Sussex Wildlife Rescue and Ambulance Service welcomes a vote that put hedgehogs top.
EconomyWhy Britain should reject the lure of cheap – and scary – Chinese AI
In the west the technology comes with at least some effort to provide security and a benign intent – not so from China There is much to fear from artificial intelligence developed in China and handed to businesses and governments in the west almost free of cha
Economy‘Countries are defying gravity’: how much longer can global economy resist chaos?
Sky-high oil prices and geopolitical turmoil have made less of a dent than feared … just don’t bank on it to last Inside the vast, glass-walled Queen Sirikit conference centre in Bangkok, the air-conditioned atmosphere was calm as policymakers from more than 1
Economy‘Austerity is inevitably painful’: How Michael Gove justifies his politics | Radical Thinking with Aditya Chakrabortty – podcast
For more than three decades, Michael Gove has been a leading figure in British Conservatism. As a journalist, government minister and now editor of the Tory bible, the Spectator, he has helped shape the right even as it has moved further rightwards. In the lat
EconomyFaisal Islam: Why China and AI are worrying global finance bosses
At the IMF meeting in Bangkok this week finance and business leaders grappled with uncertainty.
EconomyExtreme heatwaves in Europe not changing Britons’ holiday plans, say travel bosses
Hot summer getaways are still popular – but tourism industry fears impact of rising jet fuel costs and squeezed household incomes After a year marked by extreme heat and war sending fuel prices skywards, British travel executives hoped for solace in Madeira’s
EconomyBanks expect to be hit with higher taxes in Budget
Senior banking executives have told the BBC they expect to be "on the menu" in the chancellor's Budget tax later this month.
EconomyHealey says surprise UK growth is 'sign of resilience' ahead of Budget
The economy grew by 0.1% in August, defying analysts' expectations of a slight contraction.
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