Has the Fed fixed the economy yet? And other burning economic questions for 2026
The U.S.
National/regional news and analysis
Resolve to network at your employer’s next ‘offsite’ – research shows these retreats actually help forge new connections
Getting to know new colleagues over a short period of time can pay off later on. Tom Werner/DigitalVision via Getty ImagesWhat do you do when an announcement about an “offsite” hits your work inbox? Chances are you might sigh and begrudgingly add the event to your calendar.
Trump Has a New Auto Loan Tax Break. Here’s Who Could Benefit.
Many Americans can take advantage of President Trump’s deduction on auto loan interest, but the tax break will provide only modest savings.
Whether it’s a ‘productivity puzzle’ or the ‘British disease’, the UK economy has been underperforming for decades
Maridav/ShutterstockHistory does not repeat itself, but it rhymes – and economic history is no exception. In 1964, a Labour government came to power in the UK with a pledge to curb inflation and to deliver growth. The growth plans were short lived. In 2024, in a cost-of-living crisis, Labour again won an election with a promise to “kick-start economic growth”. Only 18 months in, and plans have stalled again.
What if we taxed what people spend, not what they earn?
FXQuadro/ShutterstockWhen people talk about tax fairness, the focus is almost always on income. How much the rich earn, how heavily that income should be taxed, and how to make sure lower earners are protected. But there is an older idea that is quietly starting to get attention again. What if taxes were based not on what people earn, but on what they spend?
Trump Administration Downplays A.I. Risks, Ignoring Economists’ Concerns
The administration has downplayed concerns — from mass job losses, to a potential financial bubble — as President Trump cheers soaring stock prices and faster growth.
The politics of the hyper-polluting private transport used by the world’s super-rich is hotting up
Roman Abramovich's super-yacht Eclipse. Bulent Demir/ShutterstockWhile millions of people make the effort to sort their recycling, buy fewer clothes and generally make greener choices, the world’s wealthiest can emit the same amount of carbon as the average person does in a year by going on holiday just once.
How ChatGPT could change the face of advertising, without you even knowing about it
Summit Art Creations/ShutterstockOnline adverts are sometimes so personal that they feel eerie. Even as a researcher in this area, I’m slightly startled when I get a message asking if my son still needs school shirts a few hours after browsing for clothes for my children.
The cost of chocolate is soaring, but blaming cocoa prices doesn’t give the whole picture
Dmitr1ch/ShutterstockFamiliar bars of chocolate have been getting more expensive, and often smaller. Is this really just because cocoa has become more expensive, as is often claimed in the media?
The ‘pawprint economy’ is booming – and it offers huge opportunities for tourism
New Africa/ShutterstockLuxury pet pampering packages at hotels, menus with dog-friendly roast dinners and £6,000 animal-friendly charter flights. Pet travel isn’t just a trend, it’s something of a transformation. This is the “pawprint economy” – and it’s booming.
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