• US budget deficit rises to 4bn in October amid shutdown disruption

    US budget deficit rises to $284bn in October. Treasury data shows the early fiscal shortfall driven by delayed receipts and higher interest payments following a temporary government shutdown.


  • CEMS warns AI could dull the edge of human leadership

    New report warns AI overreliance could erode curiosity, ethics, and critical thinking.


  • 80% of UK businesses face agility crisis amid budget uncertainty

    Four in five UK companies are struggling to adapt. As fiscal pressures mount ahead of the Autumn Budget, new research from accountancy firm Menzies suggests that decision-making inertia is stalling growth, with many businesses missing key opportunities due to slow responses and short-term thinking.


  • Elementaryb launches sherloc to transform SME finance

    Elementaryb has launched sherloc, its new AI platform for SMEs. The fintech says the system gives smaller businesses real-time foresight over cash flow, risk, and opportunity. Designed as a “financial intelligence brain,” sherloc connects operational and financial data to deliver predictive insights once accessible only to large corporations.


  • Disposable income drops; 20% struggle with bills

    Disposable income falls for the fourth consecutive month. One in five UK households struggles to cover essential bills as wage growth lags behind rising costs, pressuring Chancellor Rachel Reeves ahead of the upcoming Budget.


  • Your first PE meeting: Chemistry matters as much as numbers

    First meetings with investors are less performance, more partnership. Jamie Roberts, Managing Partner at YFM, explains why chemistry can make or break an initial PE meeting — and how founders who treat it as a conversation, not a pitch, set the tone for lasting collaboration.


  • EV salary sacrifice should be a force for good in the autumn Budget

    EV salary sacrifice delivers measurable benefits for both employees and employers. Thom Groot, CEO of The Electric Car Scheme, argues that the upcoming autumn Budget must preserve this crucial incentive — one that is helping middle-income families access affordable electric transport and driving real progress towards net zero.


  • EU to press US for fuller delivery on July trade accord

    Brussels prepares to push Washington over stalled tariff reforms. The European Union will urge the United States to honour more of July’s trade agreement, including cutting 50 % tariffs on steel and aluminium imports, amid concern that delays are undermining post-pandemic industrial competitiveness and transatlantic supply-chain recovery.


  • Brits seek festive work early as Christmas temp job searches soar

    Searches for Christmas temp jobs hit record levels in September. New research from The Accountancy Partnership shows a 23% year-on-year rise in festive job searches, suggesting that Britons are seeking seasonal work earlier than ever amid continuing financial strain.


  • Government borrowing exceeds forecast by £9.9bn

    Government borrowing exceeds forecasts by £9.9 billion this fiscal year. Public sector borrowing reached £17.4 billion in October, marking the third-highest October on record. The cumulative borrowing since April is £116.8 billion, intensifying economic pressures as the Budget approaches.