Economy

• The UK government continues advancing its long-term devolution agenda by supporting greater decision-making at the regional and local level.

•Cybersecurityremains one of the UK's highest strategic priorities as digital transformation accelerates across the economy.

The idea that Britain, a wealthy G7 economy, lags a country like Romania on mobile connectivity has become a recurring embarrassment. It is rooted in real data. Historic OpenSignal analysis found the UK trailing Romania on 4G availability and speed, with Romania recording average …

The Monetary Policy Committee left Bank Rate unchanged at 3.75% on 30 July 2026, the fifth consecutive hold of the year. On the surface, a steady policy rate reads as calm. Beneath it lies one of the more awkward trade-offs the Bank has faced …

UK consumer price inflation fell to 2.6% in the year to June 2026, down from 2.8% in May, according to the Office for National Statistics. The decline was led by transport, and specifically motor fuels: diesel prices fell about 10.7 pence per litre between …

After a period of relative calm, oil prices spiked sharply in July 2026. Brent crude climbed above $100 a barrel on 23 July, having traded below $71 only three weeks earlier, and touched levels around $107-109 during the worst of the fighting before easing …

The Monetary Policy Committee voted 6-3 to hold Bank Rate at 3.75% on 30 July 2026. The three dissenters did not argue for the status quo or for cuts; they wanted an increase of a quarter point to 4%. Among them was the Bank's …