10 h. ago New car tax rules could ‘undermine consumer confidence’ in EVs, Treasury warned

The Treasury will remove EVs’ exemption from vehicle excise duty – known as car tax – from Tuesday.

Events

28 h. ago Why Tuesday is 'April Cruel Day' as collection of 'devastating' bill hikes hit

April Fool’s Day is no longer just a day for practical jokes, writes Derek Mitchell

Events

44 h. ago Kohl’s is closing stores in 15 states today — see the full list of locations

Their last day of business is March 29

Politics

66 h. ago US consumer confidence hit by tariff fears; Thames Water’s finance chief leaving within days – business live

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial newsOver in Germany, the number of people out of work has risen at the fastest rate since October of 2024.The German labour office said the number of unemployed increased by 26,000 in seasonally adjusted terms to 2.92 million. Analysts polled by Reuters had expected that figure to rise by 10,000.“March marks the start of the so-called spring recovery on the labour market. This year, however, the economic slump is noticeably slowing it down.”One bright spot was the impressive 1.9% q/q (CE forecast 0.7% q/q) rise in consumers’ real incomes in Q4. The 4.2% rise in 2024 as a whole suggests households experienced the strongest real income growth in nine years.With consumer spending hardly rising, at 12.0% in Q4 (up from 10.3% in Q3), the saving rate remains unusually high, suggesting households are choosing to save rather than spend the bulk of those gains. Continue reading...

Economics

68 h. ago Tariff uncertainty risks ‘significant economic damage’; Thames Water’s finance chief leaving within days – business live

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial newsOver in Germany, the number of people out of work has risen at the fastest rate since October of 2024.The German labour office said the number of unemployed increased by 26,000 in seasonally adjusted terms to 2.92 million. Analysts polled by Reuters had expected that figure to rise by 10,000.“March marks the start of the so-called spring recovery on the labour market. This year, however, the economic slump is noticeably slowing it down.”One bright spot was the impressive 1.9% q/q (CE forecast 0.7% q/q) rise in consumers’ real incomes in Q4. The 4.2% rise in 2024 as a whole suggests households experienced the strongest real income growth in nine years.With consumer spending hardly rising, at 12.0% in Q4 (up from 10.3% in Q3), the saving rate remains unusually high, suggesting households are choosing to save rather than spend the bulk of those gains. Continue reading...

Economics

68 h. ago Thames Water’s finance chief quits as firm continues trying to find a buyer

Alastair Cochran, Thames Water’s chief financial officer, told the firm that he is stepping down on Friday morning, PA news agency understands.

Economics

68 h. ago Thames Water's finance chief departs at crucial stage of survival battle

Alastair Cochran steps down next week after more than three years with the utility

Events

3 d. ago EU appears to back down on carbon levy on international shipping

Bloc set to accept compromise that would allow companies to trade carbon credits, in blow to climate financeThe long-awaited carbon levy on international shipping that was to supply vital climate finance looks set to be heavily watered down, after the EU appeared to be backing down in global talks, in a blow to vulnerable countries.The EU is set to accept a compromise that would allow companies to enter into a system of trading carbon credits, instead of paying directly for their emissions, the Guardian has learned. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago Ricky Gervais forced to pause plans for £5million mega mansion on River Thames over government fears as he's given list of demands to fulfil before he can start building it

Ricky Gervais has been forced to freeze plans to build a new £5 million riverside mansion in the Buckinghamshire town of Marlow after the Environment Agency cited a number of concerns.

Economics

4 d. ago Kohl’s is closing stores in 15 states — see the full list of locations

Their last day of business is March 29

Politics

5 d. ago Rising fears of Trump tariffs pummel US consumer confidence to four

Tariffs panned by economists for sowing uncertainty that they said made it challenging for businesses to plan aheadUS consumer confidence plunged to the lowest level in more than four years in March, with households fearing a recession in the future and higher inflation because of tariffs.The Conference Board said on Tuesday that write-in responses to the survey showed “worries about the impact of trade policies and tariffs in particular are on the rise”, adding: “There were also more references than usual to economic and policy uncertainty.” Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. ago US consumer confidence tumbles for the 4th consecutive month to a 12

U.S. consumer confidence fell for the fourth straight month as Americans’ anxiety about future expectations declined to a 12-year low amid rising concern over tariffs and inflation

Politics

6 d. ago Trump to hit countries that buy Venezuelan oil with 25% tariff

Move could sharply increase levies on China and India as major purchasers of Caracas’s crude

Politics

6 d. ago Trump to hit countries that buy Venezuelan oil with 25 per cent tariff

Move could sharply increase levies on China and India, major purchasers of Caracas’s crude

Politics

6 d. ago Heathrow defends its response as questions grow about why a fire shut the airport for so long

Heathrow bosses are defending their response to a fire that shut down Europe’s busiest air hub for almost a day

Society

7 d. ago Service at Heathrow airport returns to normal two days after forced closure

More than a thousand flights were cancelled on Friday after a fire at an electrical substation caused a power cutHeathrow airport has returned to normal business two days after it was forced to close when a fire at an electrical substation caused a power cut.Europe’s busiest airport had more than 1,000 flights cancelled on Friday after the fire at the substation in Hayes, west London. Continue reading...

Society

8 d. ago After America: can Europe learn to go it alone without the US?

In Germany, tariff-hit car factories are being repurposed for defence. In Britain, American academics are queueing up for jobs. The west will be different as a result of Trump – but will it be worse?The German ­electronics firm Hensoldt has a backlog of orders for its technology, ­including radars that protect Ukraine from Russian airstrikes. Meanwhile, Germany’s car industry is struggling with low European demand and competition from China.As Europe worries about how it can weather the economic and ­political turmoil unleashed by Donald Trump, executives from Munich and Düsseldorf say they have at least a partial answer. Continue reading...

Politics

8 d. ago 'We have already caused an uproar on TikTok just days after opening our new Greater Manchester business'

'People are telling us this is really needed'

Politics

9 d. ago First jet lands at Heathrow as ‘skeleton’ service of flights resumes

British Airways to operate a small number of flights on Friday evening after fire shut Europe’s busiest airport for most of day

Events

9 d. ago Thames Water had feared it might be left with just £39mn cash by month

UK’s largest utility is facing a cash crunch weighed down by nearly £20bn in debt

Economics