Business & Economy

Published: 12 August. The English Chronicle Desk New data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reveal a continued slowdown in wage growth across the UK, with retail and hospitality sectors facing persistent job losses. Average weekly earnings rose by 4.6% in the three months to June, down from 5% in the previous period, while pay excluding bonuses maintained a 5% growth rate. Despite these increases, the overall picture suggests...

Published: 12 August — The English Chronicle Desk David Lammy, the UK Foreign Secretary, is under potential legal scrutiny over a controversial plan to embed staff from multinational corporations Shell and BAE Systems within the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). The proposal, aimed at fostering closer ties between government and business, has raised serious concerns among campaigners who warn that it risks improper influence and conflicts of interest within...

Published: 12 August — The English Chronicle Desk The UK’s labour market is feeling the effects of a prolonged economic slowdown, with employers pulling back on both bonuses and recruitment, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Data released on Tuesday revealed that while the official unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.7% in the three months to June—a four-year high—signs of weakening demand for labour...

Published: 11 August 2025. The English Chronicle Desk Students across England are set to receive A-level results this year that more closely reflect the pre-pandemic standards last seen in 2019, marking a significant milestone after years of disruption caused by Covid-19. For the first time since the onset of the pandemic, the grading pattern will align more traditionally with the national GCSE results these students attained two years prior, signaling...

Published: 09 August 2025. The English Chronicle Desk A former waiter at the prestigious restaurant chain The Ivy has initiated legal proceedings against the company, alleging unfair treatment regarding the distribution of tips and service charges. The dispute centers on the waiter’s claim that he received an unreasonably small share of the £31,600 service charge pot collected at his branch during a single month and was denied transparent information about...

Published: 08 August. The English Chronicle Online A remarkable opportunity has emerged for discerning buyers seeking a unique blend of British naval history and off-grid luxury living. Thorne Island, a Grade II listed 19th-century fort nestled off the coast of Pembrokeshire, Wales, is now on the market for £3 million. This extraordinary private island combines rich heritage with modern comforts, offering a rare chance to own a secluded haven with...

Published: 08 August. The English Chronicle Desk The UK government’s flagship plan to overhaul the non-domiciled (non-dom) tax regime, introduced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves in her first budget, faces mounting uncertainty and possible unintended consequences. Designed to raise billions for the public purse by ending a centuries-old tax loophole, early signs suggest the policy may instead prompt a significant outflow of wealthy individuals, potentially reducing tax revenues and harming the...

Published: 07 August '2025. The English Chronicle Desk  For one young professional, the move from London to Berlin has been more than a change of scenery—it has been a revelation in what life could and should look like for Britain’s overworked, underpaid, and increasingly disillusioned generation. Swapping a cramped Zone 4 studio flat in the capital for a stylish one-bedroom apartment in Berlin’s vibrant Prenzlauer Berg, all while paying the...

Published: 05 August '2025. The English Chronicle Desk Diageo, the world’s leading spirits producer and owner of iconic brands such as Guinness, Johnnie Walker, and Smirnoff, has reported a sharp 28% fall in its annual operating profits. This downturn has been attributed to a combination of internal challenges, shifting consumer habits, and external economic pressures—including a looming $200 million hit from new U.S. tariffs imposed under former President Donald Trump's...

Published: 05 August '2025 | The English Chronicle Desk In an ever-evolving economic climate where financial caution is more important than ever, this week's edition of the award-winning Money newsletter brings a fresh batch of insights to help UK households make the most of their budgets — from coffee cups to child benefit deadlines. In a surprising result from a blind taste test, an own-brand instant Americano has outshone established...