Economy
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Economy OBR Warns Higher Inflation Is Pushing Up UK Government Debt Interest Costs Above Forecast
The Office for Budget Responsibility’s latest monthly commentary on the public finances confirms that above-forecast inflation is driving…
6 July 2026 -
Economy UK Government Borrowing Hits £23.3 Billion in May 2026 — Second-Highest on Record for the Month
The Office for National Statistics has reported a 30.4% year-on-year surge in public sector borrowing for May 2026, pushing national debt…
4 July 2026 -
Economy ONS Confirms 0.4% Rise in Great Britain Retail Sales Volumes for March to May 2026
Department stores and computer and telecoms retailers drove modest quarterly growth, according to official figures from the Office for…
2 July 2026 -
Economy UK Wage Growth Holds Steady at 3.4% — What the Latest ONS Figures Mean for Kent Workers
Official statistics show regular pay rising at 3.4% annually in the three months to April 2026, but after inflation, real gains remain slim…
1 July 2026 -
Economy ONS Data Show Rise in Consumer Activity in May 2026 as Retail Footfall and Card Spending Increase
UK retail footfall, Revolut debit card spending and average Direct Debit transaction values all rose in May 2026 compared with April 2026…
30 June 2026 -
Economy Most UK Trading Businesses Expect Prices to Hold Steady in July 2026, ONS Data Shows
New figures from the Office for National Statistics show 19% of trading businesses expect to raise their selling prices in July 2026, with…
29 June 2026 -
Economy Two-Thirds of UK Businesses Still Worried About Energy and Fuel Costs, ONS Survey Finds
New figures from the Office for National Statistics show that around 62% of trading businesses had concerns about energy prices in late May…
20 June 2026 -
Economy UK Employment Falls by 104,000 as ONS Labour Market Figures Point to Softening Job Market
The Office for National Statistics has published its May 2026 labour market overview, showing a fall in payrolled employees, rising…
19 June 2026 -
Economy UK Job Vacancies Fall to 707,000 — What the Latest ONS Data Shows for Kent Jobseekers
Early ONS estimates put UK vacancies at their lowest level since February to April 2021 after a drop of 28,000 in the three months to…
18 June 2026 -
Economy Service Sector Business Volumes Fall at Accelerating Pace Across UK
New CBI survey data shows service sector activity declined faster in May than April, with firms expecting continued falls over the next…
14 June 2026 -
Economy Net Zero Economy Worth £83bn and Nearly 1 Million Jobs to UK, New CBI Study Reveals
Fresh assessment shows Britain’s green economy grew 10% in a year and now supports 951,000 jobs with above-average wages. The numbers on…
13 June 2026 -
Economy Kent Households Face Persistent 3.6% Cost Rises as National Index Shows No Change
Office for National Statistics data reveals UK household costs reached 3.6% annual inflation in December 2025, before reportedly declining…
7 June 2026