mick wass photographyMany of us check the weather forecast to plan our day – to decide whether to carry an umbrella, postpone a trip or work from home when snow is on the horizon. But weather alerts can influence more than just our personal routines. They can also move financial markets.
oceanfishing/ShutterstockData from the World Bank suggests that extreme poverty has declined dramatically over the past four decades, from 47% of the world’s population in 1981 to around 10% today.
Unexpected growth in the UK economy isn’t enough to detract from the gaping hole in the country’s public finances. Speculation is ramping up about what steps the chancellor of the exchequer, Rachel Reeves, might take to plug the gap come the budget in autumn – and there are no shortage of ideas. The trouble is, each comes with risks and unknowns. Our experts have weighed up the evidence to offer their suggestions.
Bite the bullet – raise income tax
Maha Rafi Atal, Adam Smith Senior Lecturer in Political Economy, University of Glasgow
KinoMasterskaya/ShutterstockIf you’re a freelancer, you know there are many perks to how you make a living. For some, this includes being free to work when and how you please, setting your own rates, and being your own boss. But you also know there are downsides to this form of working life.
The car finance scandal could have ended up costing UK banks and lenders up to £44 billion in compensation payments. But after the latest court ruling, the expected bill has been reduced to less than £18 billion.
There are more than 1 million people on NHS waiting lists for mental healthcare in the UK. Many of them have to wait weeks or months before treatment can begin for conditions such as depression and anxiety.
And according to recent figures from the BBC, there are 12 times more patients waiting longer than 18 months for mental health treatment compared to those with physical conditions.
RYO Alexandre/ShutterstockWith the UK government facing a multibillion pound gap between revenue and spending, calls for a wealth tax are becoming louder.
The US president, Donald Trump, signed an executive order on August 5 to set up a government taskforce to manage the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. During the White House announcement, Trump said: “We’ll do anything necessary to keep the Olympics safe, including using our National Guard or military.”
Donald Trump’s new international trade tariffs have landed. Some are lower than others, some deals have been done, but overall they are the highest they have been in 100 years.
They are also unprecedented in the era of the rules-based trade system that has been in place since 1945.
Studio Nut/ShutterstockBaby food pouches came under scrutiny earlier this year, following a report from the University of Leeds and consumer group Which?.
