Market

Published: 22 September 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. US President Donald Trump has said Washington is working on what he described as a “massive” deal to purchase potash fertiliser from Belarus, potentially marking a significant shift in the United States’ traditional supply arrangements as the Trump administration intensifies its trade dispute with Canada. Trump announced the proposed deal on Monday, saying that Belarusian potash could be...

Published: 18 September 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. Retail sales across Great Britain returned to growth in August, offering a fresh indication that consumer activity remains more resilient than some recent economic forecasts had suggested. Official figures showed that the volume of goods purchased increased by 0.5% during the month, reversing the decline recorded in July and exceeding expectations for a modest fall. The latest figures...

Published: 18 September 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. Japan’s central bank has raised its benchmark interest rate to its highest level in more than three decades, as policymakers respond to persistent inflationary pressure and the economic effects of higher energy costs associated with the conflict in the Middle East. The Bank of Japan voted to increase its target short-term interest rate from 1% to 1.25%, taking...

Published: 17 September 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online Britain’s economic picture has become more complicated ahead of the Bank of England’s latest interest-rate decision, with new analysis suggesting that the UK economy may have been more productive than previously estimated even as inflationary pressures and a weakening labour market create difficult choices for policymakers. The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee was due to announce its...

Published: 16 September 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. UK inflation has climbed back above 3%, adding to the financial pressure facing households and businesses as higher energy and fuel costs feed through the economy. The latest figures arrive at a particularly sensitive moment, with the Bank of England preparing to decide whether to change interest rates and financial markets reacting sharply to rising oil prices and...

Published: 15 September 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. Economists are urging the UK government to press the Bank of England to slow or temporarily halt its programme of selling government bonds, arguing that the policy is adding to borrowing costs at a time when the Treasury is already facing mounting financial pressure. The issue is set to come under renewed scrutiny this week as the Bank’s...

Published: 15 September 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. UK wage growth has slowed to 3.9% as the labour market shows further signs of losing momentum, adding to a difficult set of choices for the Bank of England as it prepares for a closely watched interest rate decision. Official figures show that average total earnings, including bonuses, increased by 3.9% in the three months to July, down...

Published: 15 September 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. Parents and carers across the UK are cutting back on school uniform spending as household budgets remain under pressure, with families increasingly turning to promotions and second-hand clothing to manage the cost of sending children back to school. Average spending on school uniform fell to £54.53 in the four weeks to 6 September, down 12.5% from £62.29 during...

Published: 15 September 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. Millions of pensioners across the UK are on course for another significant increase in their state pension after official wage figures indicated that payments could rise by 3.9% next April under the government’s triple-lock system. The latest earnings data show that total pay increased by 3.9% over the year, making wage growth the leading candidate for determining next...

Published: 14 September 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. Thames Water has revised plans for a major reservoir in Oxfordshire as the struggling water company attempts to move forward with one of the largest water infrastructure projects ever proposed in the south-east of England, despite strong opposition from local councils, residents and campaigners. The White Horse reservoir, planned near Abingdon, is designed to hold around 150 billion...