Category: Business

Lucy Hooker Business reporter Millie Castleton Millie Castleton was only eight years old when her father lost his job managing the post office in Bridlington, Yorkshire, and her family was branded as “thieves and liars” in the local community. Nearly a decade later, after facing bullying at school, developing an eating disorder and dropping out of university, she is still struggling with […]

  Dearbail Jordan Business reporter, BBC News Getty Images Prices for all-inclusive family package holidays in some of the most popular desinations have soared over the past year. But there are ways of saving money if you want to escape abroad. Here are six tips to help keep costs down. 1. Book early for July and August The price you pay for […]

Kevin Peachey Cost of living correspondent Getty Images Chancellor Rachel Reeves is expected to announce changes to tax-free Individual Savings Accounts (Isas) on Tuesday. It its thought she may set out new rules to encourage more investment in stocks and shares Isas. What are Isas and how much money can you save in them? An Individual Savings Account (Isa) is a savings […]

US President Donald Trump said he was planning to impose a 50% tax on goods made in Brazil, escalating his fight with the South American country. He announced the plan in his latest tariff letter, which was shared on social media. In it, Trump accuses Brazil of “attacks” on US tech companies and of conducting a “witch hunt” against former far-right president […]

ADVERTISEMENT When President Donald Trump last rolled out tariffs this high, financial markets quaked, consumer confidence crashed, and his popularity plunged. Only three months later, he’s betting this time will be different. When Trump announces a new round of tariffs this week, he is betting that import taxes will deliver factory jobs and stronger growth in the US. Many economists are nonetheless […]

Tom Espiner and Esyllt Carr Business reporters Reporting fromThe Oval, London Getty Images The Post Office Horizon IT scandal had a “disastrous” impact on those wrongly accused and prosecuted for criminal offences, the first report from the official inquiry into the scandal has found. Sir Wyn Williams’ report has revealed the scale of the suffering caused to hundreds of sub-postmasters wrongly prosecuted […]

Kevin Peachey Cost of living correspondent, BBC News Getty Images The cost of the state pension triple lock is forecast to be three times higher by the end of the decade than its original estimate, according to the government’s official forecaster. The triple lock, which came into force in 2011, means that the state pension rises each year in line with either […]

Esyllt Carr, Emily Atkinson & Tom Espiner BBC News Reporting fromThe Oval, London Post Office scandal victims demand accountability Victims of the Post Office scandal have been waiting years for justice. More than 900 sub-postmasters were prosecuted after the faulty Horizon computer system made it look like money was missing from their branch accounts. Sir Wyn Williams has now published the first […]

Tom Espiner BBC business reporter Reporting fromThe Oval, London Getty Images People affected by the Horizon scandal gathered outside the Oval in London on Tuesday where the report was announced The first report on the findings from an inquiry into the Post Office Horizon IT scandal has been published. It reveals for the first time the full extent of the suffering of […]

MaryLou Costa Technology Reporter Reporting fromVilnius, Lithuania Astrolight Astrolight is developing a laser-based communications system I’m led through a series of concrete corridors at Vilnius University, Lithuania; the murals give a Soviet-era vibe, and it seems an unlikely location for a high-tech lab working on a laser communication system. But that’s where you’ll find the headquarters of Astrolight, a six-year-old Lithuanian space-tech […]

ADVERTISEMENT Wages in the UK, the Netherlands, Germany, and France grew year-on-year by 5.5%, 5.3%, 3.8%, and 1.9%, respectively, in May 2025. That’s based on salary data from global hiring platform Indeed. After adjusting for inflation — using CPI data from the ONS and Eurostat — real wage growth stood at 2.3% in the UK, 1.8% in the Netherlands, 1.6% in Germany, […]

ADVERTISEMENT EU member states increased their total defence spending by over 30% between 2021 and 2024, rising from €214 billion to an estimated €326 billion, according to the European Defence Agency. Europe’s defence industry is also facing growing labour needs, leading to a rise in job postings. Hiring has increased sharply across Europe’s defence sector compared to the broader job market, according […]

ADVERTISEMENT In 2023, 4.3 million people moved to the EU from non-EU countries. Another 1.5 million moved between EU countries. While the EU works to control illegal migration, some countries actively seek highly-skilled workers.   The EU Blue Card is one of the mechanisms for attracting highly qualified workers from outside the EU. In 2023, around 89,000 non-EU professionals were granted a Blue […]

ADVERTISEMENT Republicans muscled President Donald Trump’s tax and spending cut bill through the House on Thursday, the final step necessary to get the proposal to his desk by the GOP’s self-imposed deadline of 4th July. At nearly 900 pages, the legislation is a sprawling collection of tax breaks, spending cuts and other Republican priorities, including new money for national defence and deportations. […]

ADVERTISEMENT German retailers noticed a gaping hole of missing merchandise worth €4.95bn when they completed their inventories in 2024. That’s according to a new publication by the country’s EHI Retail Institute, based on a survey they carry out each year. And while the overall loss is 3% more than in the previous year and a new record, the nearly €5bn is not […]

Osmond Chia & Dearbail Jordan Business reporters, BBC News Reporting fromSingapore & London Getty Images US President Donald Trump has warned that countries which side with the policies of the Brics alliance that go against US interests will be hit with an extra 10% tariff. “Any country aligning themselves with the Anti-American policies of BRICS, will be charged an ADDITIONAL 10% tariff. […]

By&nbspAP with Eleanor Butler Published on 07/07/2025 – 7:54 GMT+2•Updated 9:29 ADVERTISEMENT The Trump administration is stepping up pressure on trading partners to quickly make new deals before a Wednesday deadline, when the president’s 90-day so-called “reciprocal” tariff deadline is set to expire. The United States plans to start sending letters on Monday warning countries that higher tariffs could kick in on […]

Parents who experience a miscarriage before 24 weeks of pregnancy will be entitled to bereavement leave under a planned law change. The government is set to amend the Employment Rights Bill to give parents the legal right to take time off work to grieve if they experience pregnancy loss at any stage. As it stands, bereavement leave is only available to parents […]

BBC From the end of April, the 500-year-old Royal Mail will be controlled by a Czech billionaire who co-owns a football club and is a major investor in a British supermarket – so, why would he want this ailing institution? “A pair of scissors, one empty teapot and some hot water, please.” The slightly baffled staff at Claridge’s scrambled to comply with […]

BBC Listen to Laura read this article If you say the name Donald Trump in the halls of wholesale markets and trade fairs in China, you’ll hear a faint chuckle. The US president and his 145% tariffs have not instilled fear in many Chinese traders. Instead, they have inspired an army of online Chinese nationalists to create mocking memes in a series […]

BBC Among the cactuses in the desert of Arizona, just outside Phoenix, an extraordinary collection of buildings is emerging that will shape the future of the global economy and the world. The hum of further construction is creating not just a factory for the world’s most advanced semiconductors. Eventually, it will mass produce the most advanced chips in the world. This work […]