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...
Data Starter: Wealth growth
Which countries experienced the fastest growth in their wealth 2010-23?
Chipmaker’s Dilemma: How Protectionism Backfired on the US Workforce
The semiconductor industry is at the heart of modern technology, powering everything from smartphones to electric vehicles. The US has made it a priority to boost domestic semiconductor...
In the News Teaching Activity – Sharp rise in carrot prices (Sept 2024)
Why have supermarket carrot prices risen by almost 40% in 2024?
The Hidden Cost of the Cloud: Data Centers, AI, and Mexico’s Water Crisis
The Guardian reports here on fears that the rapid expansion of data centers in Mexico - whilst contributing to their economic growth and creating new jobs - might have severe environmental...
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....
In the News Teaching Activity – inflation remains at 2.2% but core inflation is up (Sept 2024)
Why has consumer price inflation stayed just above target at 2.2%?
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...
In the News Teaching Activity – 6000 jobs lost in oil & steel industries (Sept 2024)
Trade unions are hoping the government will invest to limit job losses in oil and steel.
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...
Data Starter: Corporation tax
Which industries contribute the most to Corporation Tax revenue?
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...