UK braces for price rises driven by Iran war as economic confidence plummets

Consumer confidence hit its lowest level since October 2023 this month, with surveys showing the cost pressures companies are facing

UK undershoots annual borrowing target by £700m

Figure hits three-year low but Iran war expected to blow hole in Reeves’s fiscal ‘headroom’

London faces more disruption as second 24-hour tube strike begins

RMT union drivers continue strike action against London Underground plans for a voluntary four-day week

Yes, retail investment needs a boost – but ‘Savvy Squirrel’ looks too tame

Ambition behind investing campaign is laudable, yet cutting stamp duty on share purchases, for example, would be much more savvy

Taxes on UK workers have risen at fastest rate in rich world, says OECD

Economic body found Britain had the biggest increase in ‘tax wedge’ out of 38 member nations last year

Electricity generators threatened with higher windfall taxes in bid to ensure stable prices

Move marks UK government’s most radical attempt to weaken impact of soaring wholesale gas prices on electricity costs

Quarter of a million people could lose job by middle of 2027 as UK ‘flirts with recession’, analysis says

Twin reports from top accounting firms underline scale of economic threat as Iran war shatters business confidence

Reeves rightly fears the bond market, but she can afford to ditch one unhelpful rule

The chancellor has wisely vowed to drive down the annual deficit, but long-term defence investment must not be delayed

Balancing UK’s welfare and defence spending ‘not zero-sum game’, minister says

Treasury minister James Murray hits back at George Robertson’s criticism over military budget

What is the new EU bill and could it give UK ministers Henry VIII-type powers?

Legislation would allow government to implement evolving single market rules without full parliamentary scrutiny

Collapse of US-Iran talks heightens fears of prolonged energy shock

Oil prices and borrowing costs are expected to rise this week as tankers remain stranded in the Gulf

Task for the week: limit the fallout from biggest oil shock in decades

As World Bank and IMF chiefs gather in Washington, the Iran war is driving up energy prices, fuelling inflation and testing voters’ patience

Starmer attacks Greens, saying vote for Labour rivals puts new workers’ rights at risk

PM also criticises business figures and opponents of changes, many of which come into force on Monday

Workers, pensioners and children: all better off. Ignore the critics – we really are standing up for working people

Day one rights to statutory sick pay and paternity leave begin on Monday, and that fits the pattern. From my own life, I know people’s anxieties, and I will respond, says UK prime minister Keir Starmer

Trussonomics still haunts parties’ economic promises in run-up to UK local elections

Greens, Reform UK, Your Party, Conservatives and even Lib Dems are making extravagant spending pledges