How £100 vanishes in minutes: inside the ‘slot farms’ targeted in the budget
The last of five £20 notes disappears into the slot machine as The Verve’s Bittersweet Symphony plays over the shop’s sound system.
Policy & regulation
Faisal Islam: This Budget was micro and that was deliberate
It was not a mini Budget, but it was rather small. It might be called the "micro Budget".
Reader Q&A: Our money and economics correspondents answer your Budget 2026 questions – live
The 2026 budget has been revealed; how will it affect you personally, will it change the country and has chancellor John Healey done enough to prepare for the challenges ahead? Our money and economics editors Hilary Osb…
Healey’s budget paves way for ‘brutal’ spending review next year, warns IFS
Thinktank says chancellor has given himself a mountain to climb after ducking big decisions in low-key speech
Poundland on brink of administration, with 12,000 jobs at risk
The owner of Poundland has said it is preparing to appoint administrators, putting up to 12,000 jobs at risk at the retail chain across the UK and Ireland.
Christine Lagarde, Boris Vujčić: Monetary policy statement
The Governing Council today decided to keep the three key ECB interest rates unchanged. Energy prices have continued to rise, posing upside risks to the inflation outlook and downside risks to the growth outlook. While …
FCA encourages former Verus Financial Services Limited customers to check if they can claim with FSCS
Compensation may be available to former Verus customers through the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), subject to assessment.
Europe’s central bank chief Christine Lagarde to step down nine months early
Christine Lagarde, the eurozone’s top central banker, is stepping down nine months early, ending months of speculation about her future.
What does 'fair value' look like in practice? Three years into the Consumer Duty, here’s what we’ve learned.
Fair value is a simple yet important principle at the heart of the Consumer Duty: the price customers pay should be reasonable, relative to the benefits they get. But applying that principle in practice requires judgeme…
'Uneventful' budget draws mixed reaction
While some measures were welcomed, many questioned whether households would feel better off.
Monetary policy decisions
The Governing Council today decided to keep the three key ECB interest rates unchanged. Energy prices have continued to rise, posing upside risks to the inflation outlook and downside risks to the growth outlook. While …
FCA stops HTX's crypto promotions
The FCA has secured High Court undertakings to ensure that HTX (formerly Huobi), a global crypto exchange, will not knowingly promote cryptoasset services unlawfully to UK consumers.
‘I earn £126,000 – but nothing’s left at the end of the month’: readers react to the budget
Louie, 24, a chef living in London, says a lot of people have “written off the idea of even considering getting a property” in their 20s.
Bank of England sets out approach to tokenised collateral in central clearing
The Bank of England has today launched a consultation supporting central counterparties (CCPs) acceptance of tokenised forms of eligible collateral.
Chancellor says government has 'moral duty' to help young people out of work
Chancellor John Healey has pledged a reduction in the welfare bill ahead of the next general election, in an interview with BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
Treasury will not commit to reducing welfare bill before next election
The Treasury is disputing that Chancellor John Healey suggested to the BBC that the benefits bill will be cut before the next general election.
Vance reaches out to Iran security official on peace talks- WSJ
Vice President JD Vance is engaging one of Iran’s most powerful hard-liners to revive peace negotiations even as President Trump threatens to restart the war after next week’s midterm elections, U.S. officials and peopl…
ECB President Lagarde to step down on 7 February 2027
European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde today informed the Governing Council and the President of the European Council António Costa that she will step down from her position on 7 February 2027.
Will the budget deliver ‘growth in every postcode’?
In just two years, there could be dozens of mayors preparing to spend billions of pounds as part of Andy Burnham’s mission to devolve greater powers across England.
Budget 2026: Healey hikes taxes on banks and landlords to fund £100 handouts to 20m households
Few surprises as chancellor uses low-key speech blaming ‘global economic storms’ for stoking energy prices and cost of living crisis
What we now know about the UK economy in four charts
The Office for Budget Responsibility says higher energy prices will impact everything from prices and living standards to economic growth.
Tax thresholds remain unchanged - here's what it means for your pay
Income tax thresholds, which have been frozen under successive chancellors, will stay at current levels until April 2031 as planned. But after that they are expected to start to rise again with inflation.
Fed holds rates steady as expected, though two policymakers prefer 25 bps hike
The Federal Reserve on Wednesday approved its first interest rate hike in more than three years and indicated another is to come, as part of an effort aimed at combating inflation brought on by spiraling oil prices and …
Budget 2026: what it means for your wallet, your mortgage and your pay
How the chancellor’s measures on tax, benefits and pensions will affect your personal finances