8 h. ago US goods trade gap hits record high as Trump tariffs prompt import surge

Companies rushed to purchase foreign products ahead of imposition of wide-ranging levies

Politics

8 h. ago US trade deficit surges; Amazon accused of ‘hostile and political’ act for displaying tariff costs – business live

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial newsUK grocery inflation has edged up this month, as consumers are hit by rising food prices.Data provider Kantar has reported that supermarket prices rose by 3.8% per year in the four weeks to April 20, up from 3.5% a month earlier.“Chocolate confectionery prices rose by 17.4% this period, the fastest of any category, but that didn’t stop the British public treating themselves this Easter. The volume of chocolate eggs sold through supermarket tills still grew by 0.4% on last year, while at the dinner table lamb was the most popular fresh meat joint, followed by beef and pork.Some households chose to indulge in less seasonal fare as the sun came out and they dusted off the barbecue, with burger sales shooting up by 31% over the last month.”The way in which regulations are being applied to bioethanol is undermining the commercial viability of our business. We are having constructive discussions with the UK Government to explore re...

Economics

9 h. ago US trade deficit surges ahead of tariffs; China vows not to ‘kneel down’ – business live

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial newsUK grocery inflation has edged up this month, as consumers are hit by rising food prices.Data provider Kantar has reported that supermarket prices rose by 3.8% per year in the four weeks to April 20, up from 3.5% a month earlier.“Chocolate confectionery prices rose by 17.4% this period, the fastest of any category, but that didn’t stop the British public treating themselves this Easter. The volume of chocolate eggs sold through supermarket tills still grew by 0.4% on last year, while at the dinner table lamb was the most popular fresh meat joint, followed by beef and pork.Some households chose to indulge in less seasonal fare as the sun came out and they dusted off the barbecue, with burger sales shooting up by 31% over the last month.”The way in which regulations are being applied to bioethanol is undermining the commercial viability of our business. We are having constructive discussions with the UK Government to explore re...

Economics

11 h. ago Adidas cautions over higher prices and halts outlook upgrade due to tariff woes

The German sportswear giant said prices will rise in the face of cost increases from Donald Trump’s move to raise trade tariffs on goods into the US.

Economics

11 h. ago Pedro Almodóvar attacks Trump as ‘catastrophe’ in New York speech

Spanish director compared the US president to Franco and said he wondered whether it was appropriate to visit country while he is in powerThe veteran Spanish director Pedro Almodóvar has launched a broadside against the US president, Donald Trump, while accepting an award in New York.Speaking on stage at the Lincoln Center on Monday evening, he said he had been in two minds as to whether to travel to the US to pick up his Chaplin award. Continue reading...

Politics

15 h. ago HSBC sounds alarm on trade war; Trump to soften blow of automotive tariffs – business live

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial newsThe architect of BP’s failed green energy agenda will leave the embattled oil company within months as it continues its retreat from low-carbon investments following this morning’s sharp fall in profits (see last post).The oil company said Giulia Chierchia, the executive in charge of BP’s sustainability ventures, would step back from her role from 1 June 2025 to “pursue other opportunities” outside the company. She will not be replaced. Continue reading...

Events

30 h. ago Trump's catastrophic first 100 days prove he’s a runaway crisis in motion

America - and the world - are stuck with a man governing like he’s still hosting The Apprentice, only now the prize is global stability, economic survival, and whatever is left of America's battered reputation

Politics

34 h. ago US tariff war hurting trade with China; M&S tells hundreds of warehouse agency staff not to come to work after cyber

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial newsBack in Beijing, China’s foreign ministry has said President Xi Jinping had not spoken to Donald Trump.The ministry also denied that the two administrations are in talks to strike a tariff deal, which contradicts a claim from Trump last week.“As far as I know, the two heads of state have not called each other recently,“I would like to reiterate that China and the U.S. have not conducted consultations or negotiations on the tariffs issue. Continue reading...

Economics

35 h. ago UK growth forecasts nearly HALVED for next year as hopes of US trade deal to avoid Trump's tariffs are thrown into doubt

The EY Item Club has slashed predictions for this year and next amid alarm at the impact of Donald Trump's tariffs.

Economics

39 h. ago US tariff war hurting trade with China; Beijing ‘confident’ of hitting growth targets – business live

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial newsShares in food delivery group Deliveroo have jumped by 17% at the start of trading in London, after receiving a takeover approach from US rival DoorDash.On Friday night, the news broke that DoorDash had offered to buy Deliveroo for $3.6bn (£2.7bn). Continue reading...

Events

46 h. ago Trade deal with US isn't certain despite Government efforts to avoid Trump's tariffs, says top minister

Minister for Intergovernmental Relations Pat McFadden said an agreement with the White House is 'possible' - but it was better not to rush it.

Politics

53 h. ago Trump claims trade negotiations are happening every day with China. No one in Beijing or Washington seems to know who is doing the talking

President says U.S. and China are talking, China denies it, and no one in the administration seems to know about it

Politics

66 h. ago Trade war hits foreign companies in China with double tariffs

Many manufacturers are exposed to paying duties on imports as well as exports

Events

3 d. ago Rachel Reeves says EU more important to Britain in 'gaffe' that could harm her chances of securing a US trade deal to avoid Trump's punishing tariffs

Rachel Reeves has been criticised for saying trade with the EU is more important than with the US just ahead of meeting American counterpart Scott Bessent in a bid to secure a trade deal.

Economics

4 d. ago Trade links across the Atlantic will survive the tariff storms

But a more innovative, business-friendly attitude would not go amiss in the UK

Events

4 d. ago Trump claims China's President Xi called HIM amid tariffs drama and makes odd comparison regarding their chat

President Donald Trump claimed that China's President Xi Jinping called him amid the countries' tariff drama - as China continued to dispute that trade talks are happening.

Politics

4 d. ago FBI arrests judge for alleged obstruction of immigration arrest operation, Patel says in deleted social post – live

Kash Patel has since deleted the post on X that had said a Wisconsin judge was arrested and accused of helping an immigrant ‘evade arrest’Apple is reportedly planning to switch assembly of all iPhones for the US market to India as the company seeks to reduce its reliance on a Chinese manufacturing base amid Donald Trump’s trade war.The $3tn (£2.3tn) technology company aims to make the shift as soon as next year, the Financial Times reported. Continue reading...

Events

4 d. ago Watch: JD Vance holds press conference during India trip to discuss trade deal

Watch again as US vice president JD Vance held a press conference during his trip to India on Tuesday (22 April) as New Delhi looked to avoid tariffs and negotiate a bilateral trade deal with Washington.

Economics

4 d. ago Rachel Reeves says EU trade 'reset' is MORE important than deal with US to dodge Trump's tariffs

Chancellor Rachel Reeves suggested the government could prioritise ties with Brussels ahead of sitting down with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.

Economics

4 d. ago Swiss leader says Trump administration foresees ‘privileged’ talks with 15 countries on US tariffs – US politics live

Karin Keller-Sutter, Swiss president, says Switzerland is among 15 countries with which US plans to hold negotiations to reach deals over tariffsThe Swiss president says Switzerland is among 15 countries with which the United States plans to conduct “privileged” negotiations to help reach a deal after sweeping US tariffs on dozens of countries that have shaken global markets, reports the Associated Press (AP).Karin Keller-Sutter, in an interview with broadcaster SRF published Friday, said she was “satisfied” with talks in Washington this week that included an International Monetary Fund conference and her one-on-one meeting with US treasury secretary Scott Bessent. Keller-Sutter also serves as Switzerland’s finance minister. “The United States has defined a group of 15 countries with which it wants to find a quick solution in this tariff question. Switzerland is part of this group of these 15 countries,” she told reporters separately late on Thursday in Washington, according to the ...

Politics