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In the News
Trade wars - China retaliates with brandy tax on EU exporters
A lovely case of retaliation here in the ongoing EU-China trade war with the Chinese imposing tariffs on EU brandy exports. In addition, as the article notes, "China is also considering new tariffs...
In a significant development for the UK housing market, Barratt, the nation's largest housebuilder, has completed a £2.5 billion acquisition of its smaller rival, Redrow. After months of scrutiny...
Economics Weekly Quiz | 04 October 2024
Here's this week economics news quiz! The quiz has 8 multi-choice questions about news events relating to economics from the previous 7 days. Most of the questions relate to the UK economy but some...
The European Union’s decision to slap tariffs of up to 39.7% on Chinese titanium dioxide has left Europe’s paint industry in a sticky situation as reported here in the FT. Paint makers are worried...
Argentina’s Austerity Gamble: Inflation Drops, But Poverty Soars
Since taking office in December, Argentina’s President Javier Milei has delivered on his campaign promise to slash public spending and tackle inflation head-on. His far-right, free-market policies,...
The iconic Ratcliffe-on-Soar power plant in Nottinghamshire generates its final sparks of electricity this week, closing the chapter on Britain’s 142-year relationship with coal-powered energy....
In a clever mix of humour and legal strategy, Iceland Foods has attempted to trademark its "iconic" King Prawn Ring, a product it claims to have pioneered since 1991. The supermarket giant isn't...
Amazon Pays UK Corporation Tax for First Time Since 2020: A Turning Point for Big Tech?
Amazon, the retail behemoth, has finally made a splash in the UK’s tax waters, paying corporation tax for the first time since 2020. After the end of the “super-deduction” tax break, which allowed...
Economics Weekly Quiz | 27 September 2024
Here's this week economics news quiz! The quiz has 8 multi-choice questions about news events relating to economics from the previous 7 days. Most of the questions relate to the UK economy but some...
Continued Debate over the US Minimum Wage
It seems remarkable that the USA federal minimum wage has remained at $7.25 since 2009. However, there are a number of nuanced arguments that suggests that a new federal minimum wage might be...
UK Economy: What are neutral interest rates?
This article quotes the Governor of the Bank of England who is of the view that whilst interest rates are going to fall, they're not going to fall back to close to zero, where they were.
He...
China Cuts Interest Rates to Revive Slowing Economy and Struggling Property Market
China, the world’s second-largest economy, has just rolled out its boldest economic intervention since the pandemic, aiming to kickstart growth and prevent a looming crisis in its property sector....
UK Fuel Prices Tumble: What’s Behind the Biggest Drop of the Year?
The recent sharp drop in petrol and diesel prices across the UK is offering some relief to drivers, with families now paying around £4 less to fill up their cars than they did just a month ago....
How New UK Packaging Taxes Could Affect Prices and Recycling Efforts
A new packaging tax aimed at funding recycling in the UK has sparked concerns among businesses, particularly in industries that rely on glass packaging. The Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)...
How Budget Anxiety is Shaping the UK Economic Landscape
The latest GfK Confidence Index, a barometer of consumer confidence, doesn't make for great reading, suggesting that there's been a substantial fall in consumer confidence pre-Budget. This implies...
UK Debt Soars to 100% of GDP: What Does It Mean for the Economy and Future Generations?
For the first time since the 1960s, UK national debt has hit 100% of GDP. That's right, the amount the UK owes is now equal to the entire value of the goods and services the country produces in a...
Economics Weekly Quiz | 20 September 2024
Here's this week economics news quiz! The quiz has 8 multi-choice questions about news events relating to economics from the previous 7 days. Most of the questions relate to the UK economy but some...
Federal Reserve’s Interest Rate Cut: What It Means for the US Economy
On Wednesday, the U.S. Federal Reserve made headlines by cutting its benchmark interest rate by half a percentage point. This marks the first rate reduction in over four years and signals the...
From Piccadilly to New Delhi: The Rise of Pret A Manger as a Global Giant
An important landmark for one of the UK's iconic coffee and sandwich chains. In 2023, Pret’s global sales rose to £1.1 billion, up 20% from the previous year, driven by rapid growth in non-UK...
The Rise of the British Blueberry Boom
Changing consumer tastes, undoubtedly, but there's also a little insight here into the monopsony power of supermarkets, who, fruit growers claim, are driving down the price they offer for...