Economy

The debate over Help to Buy has returned to the centre of UK housing policy after an official review concluded that the original scheme delivered “very high value for money”, boosting housingSupplyeven as it contributed to higher prices. Ministers had been preparing to unveil …

The decision to make the breast cancer therapy Enhertu available on the NHS in England, after it had previously been rejected on cost grounds, has put the question of medicine access and pricing back in the spotlight. Following a confidential pricing agreement and a …

The UK economy grew by 0.4% in the second quarter of 2026, covering April to June, according to the first quarterly estimate from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) published on 13 August. That is slower than the 0.6% growth recorded in the first …

Renters across the United Kingdom paid an average of £1,400 a month for a private home in August 2026, according to figures published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) on 16 September. Rents were 3.8% higher than a year earlier and, crucially, the …

The number of people on UK company payrolls was around 145,000 lower in August 2026 than a year earlier, according to early estimates from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) published on 15 September. That amounts to a fall of 0.5% over the year, …

The rate at which prices are rising across the UK accelerated in August, with the Consumer Pricesindex(CPI) reaching 3.1% over the 12 months to August 2026, up from 2.9% in July. The figures, published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) on 16 September, …

Two numbers capture the state of British pay this autumn. Average regular earnings, excluding bonuses, grew by 3.5% in the year to July 2026. Yet once that growth is adjusted for inflation, the real increase in what thoseEarningscan actually buy was just 0.6%. The …