British politics is hooked on flashy fake numbers – and the AI investment debacle proves it

A claim that the UK is attracting billions of pounds in AI investment has been debunked. That’s no surprise when our establishment runs on dubious ‘good news’, says Jonathan Portes, a professor at King’s College London and former senior civil servant

Seven in 10 Americans say Trump tariffs have cost them more money

Exclusive survey finds negative economic impacts felt across party lines as White House doubles down on tariffs

Bleak economic data shows UK plc in trouble well before Middle East crisis

Zero GDP growth in January will not help Rachel Reeves claim she has put UK in position to weather oil price storm

UK economy unexpectedly flatlined in January, official figures show

January’s GDP figure comes as higher energy prices look likely to drive up inflation, dashing hopes of interest rate cut

The Guardian view on Adam Smith: he deserves rescuing from the free-market myth

Editorial: On the 250th anniversary of The Wealth of Nations, the Scottish philospher is still invoked by the right. Yet he worried about inequality, monopoly and the power of wealth

Will releasing millions of barrels of oil stockpiles really bring down fuel costs?

Despite rare act of multilateralism, there is no guarantee the IEA’s release of 400m barrels from reserves will depress prices

UK companies struggling to hire young people amid cost pressures, MPs told

Business lobby groups say firms less likely to take on staff with few qualifications or who have gaps in their CVs

US inflation stayed flat at 2.4% in February before effects of war on Iran kicked in

Effect of war on prices not reflected in data, as Trump says only ‘fools’ would think oil price shocks would be significant

Aramco warns of oil market ‘catastrophe’ unless strait of Hormuz reopens soon

Saudi Arabian state oil firm calls crisis by far the biggest but company can reroute 70% of exports via its east-west pipeline

Middle East crisis could push UK inflation back up to 3%, says OBR

Government’s economic watchdog believes pressure on energy prices could push rate close to 3% by end of 2026

Iran war could knock UK homebuyer confidence, says builder Persimmon

Growing fears that elevated interest rates will continue, as Barclays finds worries that war will push up inflation

Oil prices fall and stocks rebound after Trump says Iran war could end ‘very soon’

FTSE 100 opens higher and European markets rise as US president describes conflict as ‘very complete’

US stock markets close on high after Iran war drove oil prices above $100 a barrel

Markets settled after Trump claimed US-Israel war with Iran is ‘very complete’, bringing oil prices down to $85 a barrel

How high could oil prices go – and what might the global economic fallout be?

Crude prices could surpass their 2008 record, with potentially dire effects for consumers and businesses

Rachel Reeves warns fuel retailers not to make ‘excess profits’ from oil crisis; G7 ‘stands ready’ to release crude reserves – as it happens

Finance ministers from G7 countries resist pressure to release emergency oil stocks at video call today