Category
In the News
Retail Competition - Aldi becomes 4th largest UK supermarket
July 2022 marked an important moment for the UK retail grocery industry. The German discount chain Aldi has overtaken Morrisons to become the 4th largest supermarket by market share.
UK Economy - Unemployment rate falls to lowest level since 1974
The UK unemployment rate has fallen to 3.6% of the labour force. This is the lowest recorded unemployment since 1974.
Price Mechanism in Action - London Hotel Prices Soar!
The Guardian reports that hotel prices are rising very quickly in the run up to the Queen’s state funeral. This is an excellent example of the price mechanism in action.
Business Objectives - Will British Gas cap profits to cut energy bills?
This news from British Gas might prompt classroom debate about the theory of the firm, and the objectives of a business.
Economics Weekly Quiz | 09 September 2022
Here's our weekly economics news quiz.
Exchange rates - Pound falls to lowest level against dollar since 1985
The day's big economic story is about the pound falling to its lowest level against the dollar for nearly 40 years, and you need to think about the macroeconomic implications of this - they aren't...
Labour Market - More minority ethnic than white workers paid below UK real living wage
Evidence of discrimination in the labour market? The Living Wage Foundation data reported here would imply this - although a lot of the data is anecdotal.
Cost of Living Crisis - Boots debuts 'Everyday' budget essentials range
Boots is launching a budget range, with everything priced below £1.50. It is a good applied example of how businesses adapt to the prevailing economic climate real incomes falling and recessionary...
UK government attempts to defend their record on sewage discharges
This article from The Guardian looks at the failure of water companies to tackle the issue of sewage discharges into the UK's oceans, and touches on a range of issues, most obviously the negative...
Scotland introduces rail and rent freeze
The powers of the devolved Scottish government are limited, but here is an example of additional forms of government intervention to help offset the cost of living crisis.
Should energy profits be subject to a tax raid?
Alex Lawson looks at the case for the government imposing a windfall tax on the UK energy companies, which seems increasingly likely, given the proposed freeze on energy bills that seems to be in...
Vistry Group (formerly Bovis Homes) and Countryside are set to merge in a deal that will create one of the largest house-builders in the UK construction industry.
Cost of Living Crisis - Should all households get some free energy?
The left-leaning New Economics Foundation have put forward some proposals to tackle the energy crisis, and they're more radical than most.
Kent Brewer left with just one EU customer after Brexit
The Old Dairy Brewery in Kent, which featured in a promotional video about the opportunities of Brexit has seen the value of its beer exports drop from £600,000 to £2,000 as it now only has one EU...
Supply shock - UK carbon dioxide price quadruples
A classic of the genre, with the quadrupling of carbon dioxide prices having lots of interesting economics implications, largely because of the derived demand for carbon dioxide.
Bus fares in England to be capped at £2 per journey for 3 months
The Transport Minister, Grant Shapps, has announced that bus fares are going to be capped at £2 per single journey for three months from January 2023.
Zambia secures emergency support from the IMF
Having come to the aid of Sri Lanka, the IMF has turned its attention to bailing out Zambia, a country with a financial crisis of its own, and similarly high debt levels.
Economics Weekly Quiz | 02 September 2022
It's back! Our weekly economics quiz returns for the start of a new term.
Cost of Living Crisis - Two decades of real pay growth set to be wiped out
The Resolution Foundation is forecasting that households' spending power might fall by £3,000, as up to 3 million households experience fuel poverty.
Mega Deal in Sports Streaming - BT Sport and Eurosport UK complete a joint venture
Here is a cracking applied example to add to Year 13 Business Economics class notes.