Business & Economy

Published: 29 January 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. The UK food industry has urged the government to introduce a transition period if it realigns post-Brexit agriculture rules with the EU. Officials warned that immediate regulatory changes could create a “cliff edge” costing UK businesses between £500 million and £810 million annually. The call for a UK food transition has quickly become central to discussions, as farmers...

Published: 29 January 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. The UK may struggle to meet its target of producing 1.3 million cars annually without building a large new UK car factory, industry leaders have warned, as Prime Minister Keir Starmer embarks on a trade mission to China. Labour’s industrial strategy aims to nearly double output from the 764,715 cars and vans manufactured in 2025, according to the...

Published: 29 January 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. Households in England and Wales are bracing for a significant water bills increase this April, as the cost of water rises yet again. According to Water UK, the average household will face an additional £33 on their annual bills, bringing the typical payment to £639. This 5.4% rise, above last year’s inflation, is intended to fund essential repairs...

Published: 29 January 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. UK-China relations have taken centre stage as Prime Minister Keir Starmer met Xi Jinping Thursday. Starmer emphasized that UK-China cooperation would enhance trade stability amid global economic uncertainty. The prime minister insisted this visit sought to bring long-term clarity and predictability to UK-China relations after inconsistent policies under previous governments. The meeting, held at Beijing’s Great Hall of...

Published: 28 January 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. Labour’s political future is under threat unless it successfully tackles Britain’s high streets, experts warn. High street decline has emerged as the most visible indicator of economic and social malaise, shaping voter perceptions across towns and cities. Research conducted by the University of Southampton found residents believe their local high streets have deteriorated more than any other aspect...

Published: 28 January 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. Amazon has reportedly notified employees of fresh global layoffs in an email that appeared sent in error. This accidental communication immediately caused concern among affected teams at Amazon Web Services (AWS) in the US, Canada, and Costa Rica. The focus keyword “Amazon layoffs” appears prominently within this context, reflecting the developing story. A meeting invitation from a senior...

Published: 28 January 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. The US dollar has plunged to its lowest level in four years, shaking global markets and prompting investors to seek traditional safe havens like gold and the Swiss franc. Market watchers note that the dollar’s sharp decline has intensified following President Donald Trump’s dismissal of concerns regarding the currency’s slide. Speaking in Iowa, Trump insisted that the falling...

Published: 28 January 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. SpaceX is reportedly preparing a $1.5tn IPO that could attract global investor attention during a symbolic planetary alignment. According to sources, the planned flotation would coincide with Elon Musk’s 55th birthday and a rare alignment of Jupiter and Venus, making the event both strategically and symbolically significant. The proposed SpaceX IPO, if executed in mid-June, would represent one...

Published: 28 January 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. Royal Mail faced severe criticism after Christmas delivery delays left around sixteen million people waiting for important letters. These prolonged delays, highlighted by Citizens Advice, exposed the growing issue of rising UK mail costs affecting households nationwide. The watchdog’s research revealed the problem was 50% worse than in 2024 and represented the worst festive performance in five years,...

Published: 27 January 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. The free trade deal between India and the European Union has been finalised, ending nearly two decades of negotiations and marking a historic moment in global commerce. The agreement, hailed as the “mother of all deals” by European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, promises to open India’s traditionally protected market to all 27 EU member states, with...