2 h. ago US hiring slows as jobs market loses momentum; UK construction in longest slump since 2020 – business live

Construction activity in longest continuous slump in five years, as UK long-term borrowing costs dips backOuch! Britain’s construction sector is suffering its longest continuous downturn since the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic.Construction output slumped again in August, according to the latest poll of purchasing managers from data provider S&P Global.Business activity falls for eighth month in a row, but at slower pace than in JulySolid reductions in new work and employmentOptimism drops to its lowest since December 2022“Construction activity has decreased throughout the year-to-date, which is the longest continuous downturn since early-2020. August data signalled only a partial easing in the speed of decline after output fell at the fastest pace for over five years in July.Sharply reduced levels of housing and civil engineering activity were again the main reasons for a weak overall construction sector performance. Commercial work showed some resilience in August, with t...

Society

5 h. ago Business news live: Lloyds consider thousands of employees’ jobs and Jaguar Land Rover hack latest

Stock market news and latest business and finance updates from Thursday

Society

5 h. ago UK construction in longest downturn since early 2020; global bond sell

Construction activity in longest continuous slump in five years, as UK long-term borrowing costs dips backOuch! Britain’s construction sector is suffering its longest continuous downturn since the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic.Construction output slumped again in August, according to the latest poll of purchasing managers from data provider S&P Global.Business activity falls for eighth month in a row, but at slower pace than in JulySolid reductions in new work and employmentOptimism drops to its lowest since December 2022“Construction activity has decreased throughout the year-to-date, which is the longest continuous downturn since early-2020. August data signalled only a partial easing in the speed of decline after output fell at the fastest pace for over five years in July.Sharply reduced levels of housing and civil engineering activity were again the main reasons for a weak overall construction sector performance. Commercial work showed some resilience in August, with t...

Politics

7 h. ago Business news live: Lloyds could cut thousands of jobs and Jaguar Land Rover hack latest

Stock market news and latest business and finance updates from Thursday

Society

8 h. ago Businessman, 32, racially abused live on TV during Sky News interview

Two women have been arrested

Events

25 h. ago SNP: Scottish Budget process faces being delayed into the new year over 'incredibly difficult' position

Finance Secretary Shona Robison hit out at plans for a late Autumn Budget.

Politics

28 h. ago Autumn Budget: when is the 2025 UK Budget date, what will be announced

Rachel Reeves faces tough choices on taxes, spending, and growth 📊

Politics

29 h. ago FTSE 100 Live 03 September: Bond market pressure continues, date set for autumn Budget

Financial markets are on edge after yesterday’s global bonds sell-off pushed the UK’s 30-year gilt yield to its highest level since May 1998.

Economics

29 h. ago Autumn Budget date set for November 26, Chancellor Rachel Reeves announces

There are concerns that the Chancellor will be forced to hike taxes as she seeks to plug a black hole in the nation’s finances.

Politics

30 h. ago Rachel Reeves’s autumn budget will take place on 26 November

Treasury reveals date as speculation rises over potential tax increases to plug deficit in public finances of up to £40bnBusiness live – latest newsRachel Reeves’s autumn budget will take place on 26 November, the Treasury has announced, amid mounting speculation over tax increases.With the government under pressure on the economy, the chancellor has previously said measures designed to reboot growth would form the basis of her highly anticipated tax and spending plans. Continue reading...

Politics

50 h. ago Pressure rises on Reeves as government borrowing costs hit 27

Chancellor will face more limited fiscal headroom at budget after yield on 30-year bond increases to 5.68%Business live – latest updatesReshuffle gymnastics prepare Starmer to walk tricky budget tightropeBritain’s long-term borrowing costs have hit their highest level in 27 years, intensifying the pressure on the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, before the autumn budget.The yield, or interest rate, on 30-year UK government debt hit 5.714% on Tuesday. That is its highest level since 1998, indicating that it will cost the UK more to borrow from the markets, above the previous 27-year high of 5.649% set in April. Continue reading...

Events

55 h. ago Now, about those tax rises Starmer gathers Cabinet for first meeting after humiliating Rachel Reeves and drafting in left

Keir Starmer's new-look top team will assemble in Downing Street amid fears the ground is being laid for another brutal tax raid at the Autumn Budget.

Politics

55 h. ago Business news live: Gold price hits record high and Revolut share sale gives $75bn valuation

Stock market news and latest business and finance updates from Tuesday

Economics

3 d. ago Inheritance Tax rules simplified and why they could change at the Autumn Budget

Inheritance Tax is a tax on the estate, such as property, money and possessions, of someone who’s died.

Economics

3 d. ago Keir Starmer seeks to get a grip on UK economy with new hires

PM hopes reshuffled team will help navigate perilous autumn Budget and spot political dangers ahead of time

Politics

3 d. ago Rachel Reeves admits Brits 'feel stuck' as dire poll finds nearly two

Chancellor Rachel Reeves is facing a brutal Budget reckoning this Autumn with warnings she has a black hole of up to £50billion to fill.

Politics

3 d. ago UK manufacturing downturn continues as new orders slide; Trump’s attack on Fed is ‘a serious danger’ – business live

Weak market conditions, US tariffs and downbeat client confidence blamed for drop in factory ordersOuch! The UK manufacturing sector shrank again last month, as factories were hit by weaker demand at home and abroad.The latest monthly poll of purchasing managers across Britain’s manufacturing sector found that new orders and new export business both fell at quicker rates in August, leading to another drop in production volumes.“Production volumes are still showing resilience in the face of global geopolitical uncertainty and US tariff policies, with both July and August having seen only slight contractions that were milder than those suffered earlier in the year. Business confidence has also lifted to a sixmonth high, reflecting hopes that the trading environment is starting to settle down.However, August also saw a steep drop in UK manufacturers’ new orders, with total order books and overseas demand both falling at some of the fastest rates seen over the past two years. Weak marke...

Politics

3 d. ago UK manufacturing downturn continues as new orders slide; Profits surge at Royal Mail – business live

Weak market conditions, US tariffs and downbeat client confidence blamed for drop in factory ordersOuch! The UK manufacturing sector shrank again last month, as factories were hit by weaker demand at home and abroad.The latest monthly poll of purchasing managers across Britain’s manufacturing sector found that new orders and new export business both fell at quicker rates in August, leading to another drop in production volumes.“Production volumes are still showing resilience in the face of global geopolitical uncertainty and US tariff policies, with both July and August having seen only slight contractions that were milder than those suffered earlier in the year. Business confidence has also lifted to a sixmonth high, reflecting hopes that the trading environment is starting to settle down.However, August also saw a steep drop in UK manufacturers’ new orders, with total order books and overseas demand both falling at some of the fastest rates seen over the past two years. Weak marke...

Economics

3 d. ago Profits surge at Royal Mail’s parent company after £3.6bn takeover by foreign owner – business live

Royal Mail returns to an underlying annual profit for the first time in three years despite a “competitive and challenging” backdropRoyal Mail’s parent company has posted a surge in profits, in its first financial results since being taken over by Czech billionaire Daniel Křetínský.International Distribution Services (IDS) has reported that pre-tax profits jumped to £429m in the year to 30 March 2025, up from £114m the previous year.“It has been a year of change for IDS. Thanks to the hard work of our people and our investment in transformation, Royal Mail returned to profit for the first time in three years, marking an important milestone in the company’s turnaround.With IDS’s acquisition by EP Group complete and Universal Service reform decided now is the time for us to drive the business forward and capitalise on our momentum.This is in line with guidance and was achieved despite an increasingly competitive and challenging trading environment. Continue reading...

Economics

3 d. ago Factory activity shrinks as US tariffs bite; UK house prices drop – business live

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial newsEuropean Central Bank president Christine Lagarde has weighed in on the crisis in France, saying that any risk of a government falling in the euro zone is “worrying”.Speaking to broadcaster Radio Classique, Lagarde said France is not currently in a situation that would need the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to intervene. Continue reading...

Economics