Business & Economy

Published: 16 February 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. Lloyds Banking Group is under scrutiny after using employee banking information during pay negotiations with unions, raising questions over Lloyds data privacy. The revelation has sparked concern among staff, who were informed at a February town hall meeting that the bank is investigating the controversial use of financial information. CEO Charlie Nunn acknowledged the “concern” this move caused...

Published: 16 February 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. The Coles discounts case has moved into the spotlight as a major legal battle unfolds in Australia’s Federal Court. At the centre of the dispute are allegations that Coles discounts misled shoppers through pricing tactics described as technically accurate but fundamentally deceptive. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, widely known as the ACCC, argues that Coles discounts concealed...

Published: 16 February 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. A new EV mileage tax in the UK is set to hit rural drivers hardest, research shows. Introduced in the autumn budget and scheduled for 2028, the 3p-a-mile charge targets electric vehicle owners as petrol duty revenues decline. Analysis indicates residents in the south-west of England could face bills nearly four times higher than London drivers, with rural...

Published: 16 February 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. The Trades Union Congress has called for the Bank of England to reduce interest rates, warning that stagnant consumer spending is dragging the UK economy behind its international peers. This thinktank probe highlights that households struggling with high borrowing costs are unable to sustain growth, while other industrialised nations continue to see rising consumer demand. The TUC emphasised...

Published: 05 December 2025. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online A major discount retailer has launched a closing down sale across several of its outlets as four stores have already shut and more than 100 additional locations face potential closure. The retailer, which operates across the UK and has long been a go-to destination for affordable household goods, clothing, and groceries, cited rising operational costs and declining footfall...

Published: 05 December 2025. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online The gender pay gap in the UK is projected to persist for decades, with union leaders warning that it could take another 30 years for women to achieve pay parity with men. The warning comes as the Trades Union Congress (TUC) released new analysis highlighting slow progress in reducing the disparity, despite decades of legislation aimed at promoting...

Published: 05 December 2025. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online As the UK searches for ways to accelerate economic growth, many analysts are turning their attention to Manchester, asking whether the northern city could serve as a blueprint for national renewal. Once synonymous with industrial decline, Manchester has reinvented itself over the past two decades as a hub for technology, media, education, and culture — prompting debate over...

Published: 05 December 2025. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online Scotland’s renowned craft beer company, BrewDog, has officially been put up for sale, sending ripples through the global brewing industry. The move comes after years of rapid expansion, international recognition, and bold marketing campaigns that helped BrewDog establish itself as a leader in the craft beer market. The founders cited strategic restructuring and an opportunity to attract new...

Published: 05 December 2025. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online Cuba has cancelled its annual cigar festival, citing an escalating energy crisis that officials attribute in part to the ongoing effects of the US economic blockade. The festival, which has been a cornerstone of Cuban cultural tourism for decades, was expected to attract thousands of visitors and highlight the nation’s world-renowned tobacco industry. Authorities stated that worsening fuel...

The English ChroniclePublishing Date: 14 February 2026Desk: Business & Lifestyle Is dining out dying out? It’s a question increasingly being asked across the UK as restaurants grapple with rising costs, shrinking margins, and more cautious consumers. From independent bistros to well-known chains, the hospitality sector is facing mounting pressure — prompting fears that eating out could become an occasional luxury rather than a regular habit. Industry data shows footfall in...