UK firms in ‘significant financial distress’ hits record levels; Gold rises over $2,700/ounce – as it happened
“Toxic effect of high inflation” is hurting businesses, reports Begbies Traynor
Are you better off than four years ago? Why US voters should – but can’t – say yes
Many are still feeling the pinch of inflation while the fruits of growth disproportionately go to the better off
Treasury installs ‘guard rails’ to avoid Liz Truss-style budget meltdown
Rachel Reeves is to seek advice from City experts to ensure big projects’ value for money and reassure markets
Budget 2024: what taxes could Rachel Reeves raise?
The chancellor is aiming to make £40bn worth of tax rises and spending cuts to fill ‘black hole’ in public finances
ECB cuts interest rates to support flagging eurozone economy
Fall in inflation enables central bank to bring in quarter point cut to 3.25% after business and consumer slowdown
ECB’s Lagarde: ‘We’re breaking the neck of inflation’ after cutting interest rates – as it happened
Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial news
Paul Johnson to leave influential IFS economics thinktank
Leading authority on tax and spending policy to depart Institute for Fiscal Studies next year for Queen’s College, Oxford
Why is Germany shooting its own stagnating economy in the foot?
A proposed Italian-German bank merger makes sense for Europe, but Berlin is opting for domestic protectionism, says economics commentator Simon Nixon
Thursday briefing: The £40bn funding gap, £22bn ‘black hole’ and more tricky terms, explained
In today’s newsletter: Chancellor Rachel Reeves is painting a bleak picture ahead of the budget later this month. Here’s what all the jargon means
Negative stereotypes in international media cost Africa £3.2bn a year – report
Focus on conflict, corruption and poverty heightens perception of risk, raising interest on sovereign debt, authors say
Here’s a rabbit for the chancellor’s hat: scrap stamp duty on shares
Getting rid of SDRT would pay for itself over time because other receipts would rise, abolitionists say
No 10 rejects claim Labour misled voters about tax plans in manifesto – as it happened
Labour set out plans to raise taxes by £7.3bn in its manifesto – but Treasury briefing suggests £40bn in tax rises and spending cuts needed
Chances of November interest rate cut jump, and pound falls, as UK inflation drops to 1.7% – as it happened
UK inflation drops below 2% target in September, weakening pound, and likely meaning a small increase in state benefits next year
Surprise fall in UK inflation badly timed for benefit recipients
Payments such as universal credit linked to previous September’s figure, meaning a rise of just 1.7% in April
UK inflation falls below 2% for first time since 2021 in boost to Rachel Reeves
Surprise annual drop to 1.7% in September raises chance of interest rate cuts, increasing budget leeway