41 h. ago Germany’s spending push drives up borrowing costs across Eurozone

Investors warn that higher bond yields could make it harder for members of the bloc to increase defence spending

Economics

45 h. ago The jobs in high demand... because nobody wants to do them: Huge shortage of teachers, lorry drivers and police could push Britain into crisis

Since the first lockdown in 2020, the job market has remained rocky at best, with many young graduates facing the harsh reality that their career prospects may never fully recover.

Events

5 d. ago These groups now worse off in DWP, PIP and Universal Credit cuts but four will gain

The Labour Party chancellor confirmed welfare cuts of £4.8bn, but insisted the government's priority was to restore stability to the public finances in the face of rising global borrowing costs

Politics

6 d. ago Spring Statement 2025: Chancellor failing businesses as tax hikes kill investment

“There was no new support to ease the pressure on small employers; no targeted reliefs, no funding boosts, and no signal of short-term help with borrowing costs”

Events

6 d. ago Spring statement: Reeves blames ‘global uncertainty’ for deeper spending cuts

Chancellor says tougher measures required to plug fiscal hole after Treasury watchdog halves 2025 growth forecastSpring statement: key pointsAnalysis: Reeves does reasonable job of justifying fiscal prudence but welfare cuts cast shadowPolitics live – updatesRachel Reeves blamed “global uncertainty” as she announced swingeing cuts to welfare and other public spending designed to plug a fiscal hole caused by soaring borrowing costs and sluggish economic growth.The chancellor told the Commons that the UK’s growth forecast for this year had been halved from 2% to 1% by the Treasury watchdog, which concluded that the chancellor would have missed her goal of balancing the books if she did not act. Continue reading...

Politics

6 d. ago Five economic factors that will govern Rachel Reeves’s spring statement

The chancellor will address MPs on Wednesday, warning of tough spending cuts amid rising government borrowing costsWhat to expect from Rachel Reeves’s (brief) spring statementRachel Reeves will give her spring statement on Wednesday, with a warning that spending cuts are required because “the world has changed” amid rising government borrowing costs.After announcing deep cuts to welfare, provoking a fierce backlash within her party, the chancellor will present updated forecasts from the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) on the outlook for the economy and government finances. Continue reading...

Economics

6 d. ago Global rise in borrowing costs to blame for UK’s higher debt spending – Reeves

Rising borrowing costs are expected to eliminate the Chancellor’s headroom against her self-imposed fiscal rules.

Economics

7 d. ago What to expect from Rachel Reeves’s (brief) spring statement

Talk of tough choices ahead, an increase in debt financing, and more initiatives to promote growthThe spring statement offers an opportunity for Rachel Reeves to talk about progress since last October’s budget, the government’s growth agenda and how it is attempting to raise living standards. However, the chancellor’s message is likely to be defensive after being blown off course in recent months.Last year she promised “no return to austerity”. But after stalled tax receipts denied her the income she expected, and concerns over the global economy and Donald Trump’s antics raised the UK’s borrowing costs, Reeves is being forced to make cuts to stay within her budget rules. Here is what to expect from Reeves’s speech, which is predicted to be relatively short at just 25 minutes. Continue reading...

Politics

8 d. ago Spring statement: What to expect – Politics Weekly Westminster

Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey walk us through what we can expect to hear when Rachel Reeves makes her spring statement on Wednesday. With the government facing downgraded growth forecasts, rising borrowing costs and the threat of Donald Trump’s tariffs, how can it boost the economy and save public services? And how will major spending cuts go down with the party and the public? Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Airline with the smallest seats named and it's not easyJet or Ryanair

Airlines seats are getting more expensive and smaller as carriers push to drive profits. Thankfully, the consumer champion Which? has confirmed which airline's economy seat is really the smallest

Politics

2 w. ago Interest rates set to stay at 4.5% as Bank of England faces ‘fog of uncertainty’

The Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee has been gradually cutting borrowing costs since August last year.

Politics

2 w. ago Chancellor should raise taxes not cut spending to meet fiscal rules – think tank

Rachel Reeves faces a challenge to meet her fiscal rules amid faltering growth and higher borrowing costs.

Economics

2 w. ago As Congress considers cuts, California is forced to borrow $3.5 billion to cover Medicaid costs

Golden State suffers shortfall after move to extend Medi-Cal to cover all undocumented migrants regardless of age proves more expensive than anticipated

Economics

2 w. ago Bond market strains intensify for Reeves as investors await OBR’s verdict

Fiscal watchdog’s preliminary forecasts based on UK borrowing costs exclude recent rise in gilt yields

Economics

3 w. ago European markets soar as Germany moves to lift ‘debt brake’ and raise defence spending

Berlin’s ‘big bazooka’ proposal sends industrial stocks surging but fiscal sea change also hikes borrowing costsBusiness live – German debt ‘bazooka’ rallies stocks and euroEuropean financial markets have rallied sharply and German borrowing costs have soared after the country’s prospective leaders announced a historic deal to loosen its “debt brake” rule to boost spending on defence.The yield – in effect the interest rate – on 30-year German government bonds rose by about 25 basis points to 3.08% in its biggest daily increase since October 1998. Continue reading...

Economics

3 w. ago European markets soar as Germany lifts ‘debt brake’ to raise defence spending

Berlin’s ‘big bazooka’ move sends industrial stocks surging but fiscal sea change also hikes borrowing costsBusiness live – German debt ‘bazooka’ rallies stocks and euroEuropean financial markets have rallied sharply and German borrowing costs have soared after the country’s prospective leaders announced a historic deal to loosen its “debt brake” rule to boost spending on defence.The yield – in effect the interest rate – on 30-year German government bonds rose by 16 basis points, after having earlier jumped by as much as 25 basis points to 3.07% in its biggest increase since October 1998. Continue reading...

Economics

3 w. ago German borrowing costs soar by most since 1997 on ‘historic’ debt deal

Investors bet on big boost to growth after agreement to increase funding for military and infrastructure

Economics

3 w. ago German borrowing costs soar by most since 2008 on ‘historic’ debt deal

Investors bet on big boost to growth after agreement to increase funding for military and infrastructure

Economics

3 w. ago Chancellor plans sweeping welfare cuts amid tariffs warning, higher inflation and increasing borrowing costs

A minister has defended the proposals saying there is a ‘moral case’ for cutting Britain’s welfare bill

Economics

3 w. ago German borrowing costs soar after Merz deal to boost military and infrastructure spending

Proposal to relax borrowing rules described as ‘sea change’ for debt issuance

Economics